John Calvin Commentary Psalms 58:1

"Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?" — Psalms 58:1 (ASV)

Do ye indeed speak righteousness? In putting this question to his enemies by way of challenge, David displays the boldness of conscious rectitude. It argues that the justice of our cause is demonstratively evident when we venture to appeal to the opposing party himself; for if there were any ground to question its justice, it would show an absurd degree of confidence to challenge the testimony of an adversary.

David comes forward with the openness of one who was supported by a sense of his integrity and repels, by a declaration forced from their own lips, the base charges with which they blackened his character in the estimation of those who were simple enough to believe them. “You yourselves,” as if he had said, “can attest my innocence and yet persecute me with groundless slanders. Are you not ashamed of such gross and gratuitous oppression?”

It is necessary, however, to determine who they were whom David here accuses. He calls them a congregation, and again, sons of men. The Hebrew word אלם, elem, which I have rendered congregation, some consider to be an epithet applied to righteousness and translate it as dumb; but this does not express the meaning of the Psalmist.

Interpreters differ as to what we should understand by the term congregation. Some think that he alludes, by way of accusation, to the meetings his enemies held (as is usual with those who entertain wicked designs) for the purpose of concerting their plans. I am more inclined to the opinion of those who believe that he here gives (although only in courtesy) the usual title of honor to the counselors of Saul, who met professedly to consult for the good of the nation but, in reality, with no other intention than to accomplish his destruction.

Others read, in the congregation — a translation that gives the same meaning to the passage we have already assigned to it, but is not supported by the natural construction of the words. The congregation David addresses is that assembly Saul convened, ostensibly for lawful objects, but really for the oppression of the innocent.

The term sons of men, which he immediately afterwards applies to them — taking back, as it were, the title of courtesy formerly given — would seem to be used in contempt of their character, as they were a band of public robbers rather than a convention of judges.

Some, however, may believe that in employing this expression, David had in mind the universality of the opposition that confronted him — almost the whole people inclining to this wicked faction — and that he here issues a magnanimous defiance to the multitude of his enemies. Meanwhile, the lesson taught us by the passage is apparent.

Although the whole world is set against the people of God, they do not need to fear, so long as they are supported by a sense of their integrity, to challenge kings and their counselors, and the indiscriminate mob of the people. Should the whole world refuse to hear us, we must learn, by the example of David, to rest satisfied with the testimony of a good conscience and with appealing to the tribunal of God. Augustine, who only had the Greek version available, is led by this verse into a subtle disquisition on the point that the judgment of men is usually correct when called to decide upon general principles but fails egregiously in the application of these principles to particular cases, through the blinding and warping influences of their evil passions. All this may be plausible and, in its own place, useful, but it proceeds upon a complete misapprehension of the meaning of the passage.