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Psalm 58:7
ESV Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
NIV Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.
NASB May they flow away like water that runs off; When he aims his arrows, may they be as headless shafts.
CSB May they vanish like water that flows by; may they aim their blunted arrows.
NLT May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands.
KJV 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.
NKJV Let them flow away as waters which run continually; When he bends his bow, Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.

What does Psalm 58:7 mean?

David asks the Lord to harshly judge wicked rulers and judges (Psalm 58:1–2). These men have deliberately ignored God and His will (Psalm 58:3–5), resulting in violence and harm. Much as with his prior request (Psalm 58:6), David's prayer involves removing the ability of these men to hurt others. He prays they disappear, like water that soaks into the ground or dries up and disappears. Another image is that of an arrow with no point: stripped of its primary means to injure.

As an "imprecatory" psalm, this is David's call for God to issue punishment on evil people. David does not plan to take on this role himself. He is not proclaiming his intent to take revenge. Rather, he asks God to be the avenger (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). David lived out this same attitude when he refused to kill Saul—who was then king—despite being persecuted and hunted by the ruler (1 Samuel 24:6–7).
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