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Psalms 58 · Grade 5

A God Who Judges the Earth

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Read and Think

The title of Psalm 58 calls it a poem by David. It is addressed to those who hold power to judge. Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men? Rather than protect the weak, these rulers plot injustice in their heart and measure out the violence of their hands on the earth.

David describes them as wayward from birth, speaking lies, like a deaf cobra that refuses to listen to the charmer. Then comes one of the strongest prayers in the Psalms. David asks God to break the power of the wicked, using vivid pictures of lions' teeth, vanishing water, blunted arrows and a melting snail. These are poetic images of evil losing its power, and they are prayed to God rather than carried out by David.

Psalms like this are called imprecatory psalms, because they call on God to act against evil. They teach that anger at injustice belongs in prayer, and that vengeance is God's work, not ours. The psalm closes with its main point: men shall say, Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.

Show What You Know

  1. Why does David call the rulers silent ones?

  2. What do the vivid images in verses 6-9 picture?

  3. What is an imprecatory psalm?

  4. What is the main point at the end?

Crossword

42351

Across

  1. Most certainly there is a God who judges the ____.
  2. Most certainly there is a ____ who judges the earth.
  3. Do you indeed ____ righteousness.

Down

  1. Most certainly there is a ____ for the righteous.
  2. Most certainly there is a God who ____ the earth.

Think About It

  1. How can strong feelings about injustice be brought to God in a healthy way?

  2. Why does it matter that judging belongs to God and not to us?

Memory Verse

“No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands on the earth.”

Psalms 58:2 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being a fair judge. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why is God's justice good news for the weak?
  • How should leaders use their power?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.