Psalms 58:4
2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,
- KJV
- Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
- WEB
- Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,
- ASV
- Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,
- DARBY
- Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;
- BLB
- Their venom [is] like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra that stops up its ear,
- ÅB
- Gift har de lik ormegift; de er som en døv slange, som stopper sitt øre til,
- OTB
- De har gift lik den av en slange;
Som en døv kobra som lukker øret, - B1930
- Gift har de lik ormegift; de er som en døv slange, som stopper sitt øre til,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 140:3
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
Read in contextJames 3:8
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Read in contextJeremiah 8:17
For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
Read in contextRomans 3:13
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Read in contextEcclesiastes 10:11
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Read in contextJob 20:14
Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
Read in contextJob 20:16
He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
Read in contextMatthew 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Read in context