King James Version

Psalms 58:1

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 58:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 58:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.אַלalAl-taschithאַל תַּשְׁחֵתparticle, negative — “Al-taschith”H516'Thou must not destroy'; probably the opening words to a popular songAl-taschith.תַּשְׁחֵ֗תtashchetAl-taschithאַל תַּשְׁחֵתverb, hiphil, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “Al-taschith”, an unfinished actionH516'Thou must not destroy'; probably the opening words to a popular songAl-taschith.לְדָוִ֥דledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.מִכְתָּֽםmikhtamMichtamמִכְתָּםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “Michtam”, the ordinary formH4387an engraving, i.e. (techn.) a poemMichtam.

הַֽאֻמְנָ֗םhaumnamin deed; of a suretyאֻמְנָםparticle, interrogative, adverb — “in deed; of a surety”H552{verily}in (very) deed; of a surety.אֵ֣לֶםelemsilence (iאֵלֶםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “silence (i”, the ordinary formH482silence (i.e. mute justice)congregation. Compare H3128 (יוֹנַת אֵלֶם רְחֹקִים).צֶ֭דֶקtsedeqrightצֶדֶקnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “right”, the ordinary formH6664the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity[idiom] even, ([idiom] that which is altogether) just(-ice), (un-)right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).תְּדַבֵּר֑וּןtedaberunspeakדָבַרverb, piel, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, plural, paragogic nun — “speak”, an unfinished actionH1696perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdueanswer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.מֵישָׁרִ֥יםmeysharimagreementמֵישָׁרnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “agreement”, the ordinary formH4339evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or concord; also straightness, i.e. (figuratively) rectitude (only in plural with singular sense; often adverbially)agreement, aright, that are equal, equity, (things that are) right(-eously, things), sweetly, upright(-ly, -ness).תִּ֝שְׁפְּט֗וּtishpetvjudgeשָׁפַטverb, qal, imperfect, 2nd person, masculine, plural — “judge”, an unfinished actionH8199to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)[phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule.בְּנֵ֣יbenesonבֵּןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […אָדָֽםadampersonאָדָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(58-1) For the Leader; Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David; Michtam. (58-2) Do ye indeed speak as a righteous company? Do ye judge with equity the sons of men?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer. — 'Destroy not.' — A secret treasure, by David. Is it true, O dumb one, righteously ye speak? Uprightly ye judge, O sons of men?

World English Bible

Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?

Darby Translation

Is righteousness indeed silent? Do ye speak it? Do ye judge with equity, ye sons of men?

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of It title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(58-1) For the Leader; Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David; Michtam. (58-2) Do ye indeed speak as a righteous company? Do ye judge with equity the sons of men?

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

If ye do indeed speak righteousness, then do ye judge rightly, ye sons of men.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Εἰ ἀληθῶς ἄρα δικαιοσύνην λαλεῖτε, εὐθεῖα κρίνετε οἱ υἱοὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.