Psalm 58:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

NIV: May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

NASB: May they be like a snail which goes along in slime, Like the miscarriage of a woman that never sees the sun.

CSB: Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman's miscarried child, may they not see the sun.

NLT: May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes, Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

"Imprecatory" psalms are songs calling on God to deliver harsh punishment to evil people. These can use graphic terminology, such as this verse. David expresses his emotional response to the violence of wicked judges (Psalm 58:1–2) who deliberately sin for their own reasons (Psalm 58:3–5). He does not plan to take revenge himself, however. This is not a promise that David will take these steps, or a request that he be allowed to do so. David is asking for the Lord's gruesome intervention, but leaving that to God, alone (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19).

David's first image is that of a snail or slug; in Hebrew, the word for this creature implies "melting." The root word can also imply something being crushed or destroyed. Stomping on a slug leaves nothing but a smear of goo. David wishes a similar fate on the oppressive, wicked leaders. The second comparison is to a miscarriage or stillbirth. This plays on both emotional and physical ideas. The suggestion is provocative and meant to inspire a deep, gut-wrenching response, reflecting David's intense anger.

As with the disarming of dangers (Psalm 58:6–7), he wishes for these depraved people to not merely be defeated, but to be obliterated in gruesome fashion. David's commentary is not about the value of snails or miscarried children, but the idea that the wider world barely even knows they existed.

Psalm 58:6–11 follows a description of Israel's wicked rulers and judges with David's prayer for divine punishment. His words are emotional and somewhat graphic. David prays the Lord will obliterate these violent, evil people. He anticipates the joy the righteous will experience when the unscrupulous rulers and judges succumb to the Lord's punishment. When humanity sees God's justice done, they will celebrate and recognize the Lord's authority.

David begins this psalm with an indictment aimed at Israel's corrupt leaders, likely Israel's rulers and judges. He asks them whether they decree what is right and judge uprightly. He answers his own questions with a resounding "no." He blames them for plotting evil, committing violence, and lying. He portrays them as poisonous snakes. David asks God to destroy them to the point that they quickly vanish from the earth. When God punishes the wicked rulers and judges, the righteous will rejoice and declare that there is a God who rewards the righteous and does what is just.

David decries the injustice of wicked rulers and judges, likely during the later years of Saul's reign. David would have been in exile when he wrote this psalm. He prayed for deliverance from wicked leaders and for God's vengeance to be done. This is one of several "imprecatory" psalms which ask God to bring harsh punishment on His enemies.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.