Here is the link to an interesting article on Psalm 58.
Christ’s Cursing Song—Abortion And Rebirth In Psalm 58 (Part 1)
It’s probably not one sung frequently in church, even in the modern versions.
Here are some versions.
I have to say I like the Scottish version the best. Though it doesn’t exactly follow the KJV word for word, it captures the content.
e-Sword
God Who Judges the Earth
Psa 58:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
Psa 58:2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
Psa 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Psa 58:4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
Psa 58:5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
Psa 58:6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
Psa 58:7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
Psa 58:8 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
Psa 58:9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
Psa 58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psa 58:11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Old John Gill gives this background
e-Sword
INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 58
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. According to the Syriac version, this psalm was written when Saul threatened the priests, because they did not show him where David was, when they knew it. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the title “Altaschith” refers to David’s not destroying Nabal, as he threatened; and that the venom of Nabal’s tongue in reviling him, and the deafness of his ears in not attending to the messengers that told their errand wisely, are designed in this psalm; and in which the psalmist prophesies of his sudden death, before the pots for his feast could be warmed by the thorns under them, and while he was lively and jovial. Jarchi is of opinion that it was composed after David had been in the trench where Saul lay, and took away the spear and cruse, and went his way, and called to Abner, saying, “answerest thou not?” which is as if he should say, hast thou it not in thy power now to convince Saul, and show him that he pursues me without cause, since, if I would, I could have slain him? Kimchi says it was written on account of Abner, and the rest of Saul’s princes, who judged David as a rebel against the government, and said it was for Saul to pursue after him to slay him; for if they had restrained him, Saul would not have pursued after him; and indeed they seem to be wicked judges who are addressed in this psalm; “do not destroy”. Arama says, it declares the wickedness of Saul’s judges.
A simple AI web search found…
Altaschith is a Hebrew phrase that appears in the titles of Psalms 57, 58, 59, and 75. It is sometimes translated as “do not destroy“. Scholars have not agreed on its exact meaning, but it may have been a reference to an ancient song whose tune was used when singing the Psalms.
Michtam, or Miktam, is a word that appears in the Hebrew Bible in the headings of Psalms 16 and 56–60. The word’s meaning is unknown, but some possible interpretations include:
- A golden psalm The Authorized Version of the Bible translates the word as “a golden psalm”. The word kethem means “fine or stamped gold”.
- A tablet inscription The LXX translates the word as “tablet inscription” or “stelograph”. The root of the word means “to stamp or grave”.
- A musical character The position of the word in the title suggests that it refers to the musical character of the psalms.
Rainbow Trout 