The figure of the serpent, typical of insidious deadliness, is changed to that of the lion, typical of open ferocity.

Break … break out Render them powerless for harm. Two strong words, properly used of breaking down and overthrowing walls. Cp. Psalms 3:7; Job 4:10: Proverbs 30:14.

The LXX rendering of these verbs as perfects of certainty deserves consideration. It only requires a different vocalisation of the consonants, and gives an excellent sense: God shall surely break&c. The tenses in Psalms 58:7 must then be rendered as futures: They shall melt away&c. Such an authoritative declaration of the punishment in store for the wicked seems more in keeping with the prophetic tone of the Psalm than the prayer for their destruction.

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