Psalms 58:7

⁵ refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.

⁶ O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.

⁸ Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.

⁹ Before your pots can feel the burning thorns— whether green or dry— He will sweep them away.

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: May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
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.
WEB: Let them vanish like water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.
ASV: Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.
DARBY: Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted:
BLB: Let them flow away like waters, running continually to themselves; he treads the [bow]—may his arrows be as though cut in pieces.

ÅB: La dem forgå som vann som rinner bort! Legger noen sine piler i buen, da la dem bli som uten odd!
OTB: Måtte de forsvinne som vann som renner bort;
Når han spenner buen, la hans piler være som hodeløse skafter.
B1930: La dem forgå som vann som rinner bort! Legger nogen sine piler i buen, da la dem bli som uten odd!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 112:10
The wicked man will see and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the desires of the wicked will perish.
Read in context
Joshua 7:5
And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as the quarries and striking them down on the slopes. So the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
Read in context
Isaiah 13:7
Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.
Read in context
Psalms 64:3
who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
Read in context
Exodus 15:15
Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away,
Read in context
Joshua 2:9–11
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
Read in context
2 Samuel 17:10
Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.
Read in context
Psalms 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.
Read in context