Psa 57 | CPDV | STEP | Unto the end. May you not destroy. Of David, with the inscription of a title.

Psalms 57

Si vere utique.

David reproves the wicked, and foretells their punishment.

1 Unto the end. May you not destroy. Of David, with the inscription of a title.

2 If, truly and certainly, you speak justice,
then judge what is right, you sons of men.
3 For, even in your heart, you work iniquity.
Your hands construct injustice on the earth.
4 Sinners have become foreigners from the womb;
they have gone astray from conception. They have been speaking falsehoods. ^{▼▼57:4The word ‘vulva’ is feminine and refers to the womb or to the female’s generative capability. The word ‘utero’ is masculine and, in this context, refers to the male generative capability. It is not a second reference to the womb. Here the Scriptures are saying that the sinful tendencies of human persons comes from being conceived of fallen men and fallen women.(Conte)}
5 Their fury is similar to that of a serpent;
it is like a deaf asp, who even blocks her ears,
6 who will not listen to the voice of charmers,
nor even to the enchanter who chants wisely.
7 God will crush their teeth within their own mouth.
The Lord will break the molars of the lions.
8 They will come to nothing, like water flowing away.
He has aimed his bow, while they are being weakened.
9 Like wax that flows, they will be carried away.
Fire has fallen upon them, and they will not see the sun.
10 Before your thorns could know the brier,
he consumes them alive, as if in rage. ^{▼▼57:10The expression ‘absorbet eos viventes’ is figurative, as indicated by ‘sicut.’ However, it is already clear in the English translation that ‘swallowing them alive’ or ‘consuming them alive’ is a figure of speech, so a word-for-word translation of ‘sicut’ is not necessary. The meaning of ‘sicut’ is implied in the English text.(Conte)
,} ^{▼▼57:10 Before your thorns, etc: That is, before your thorns grow up, so as to become strong briers, they shall be overtaken and consumed by divine justice, swallowing them up, as it were, alive in his wrath.(Challoner)}
11 The just one will rejoice when he sees vindication.
He will wash his hands in the blood of the sinner. ^{▼▼57:11 Shall wash his hands, etc: Shall applaud the justice of God, and take occasion from the consideration of the punishment of the wicked to wash and cleanse his hands from sin.(Challoner)}
12 And man will say, “If the just one is fruitful, then,
truly, there is a God judging them on earth.” ^{▼▼57:12Here the word ‘justo’ is singular, so it could be translated as ‘the just man,’ referring, on one level, to Christ. The teachings and sacrifice of Jesus Christ bear fruit, so man concludes that there is a God who judges the earth. But, on another level, the word ‘justo’ refers to the just in general, as indicated by the plural word ‘eos.’(Conte)}