John Gill Commentary Psalms 58:7

"Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off." — Psalms 58:7 (ASV)

Let them melt away as waters [which] run continually
Let them be disheartened, and their courage fail them, and let there be no spirit left in them, (Joshua 7:5) ; or let them be unstable as water that is continually running, ever upon the flux and motion; let them never be settled, but always changing in their state and circumstances, (Genesis 49:4) ; or let them "come to nought", as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; which is the case of water that runs over or runs away: or "let them be despised", as Jarchi, and the Arabic, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions; being useless and unprofitable, as water is when passed and gone.

Or let their ruin and destruction be as swift as the gliding water; let them be brought to desolation in a moment; (Job 24:18) ; and let it be irrecoverable, as water running over the cup, and scattering itself, is spilled upon the ground, and cannot be gathered up, (2 Samuel 14:14) . The Targum is, ``let them melt in their sins as water;''

[when] he bendeth [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as cut in
pieces ;
either when the wicked man bends his bow to shoot his arrows against the righteous; when he devises, his chief against him, shoots out bitter words, and attempts to do hurt unto him; let it be as if the string of his bow and his arrows were all cut to pieces; let all his designs, words, and actions, be without effect, and let not his hand perform his enterprise: or when God bends his bow against the wicked, so Jarchi; and prepares the instruments of death for them, and ordains his arrows against the persecutors, (Psalms 7:12Psalms 7:13) ; let then his and his people's enemies be cut off, as the tops of the ears of corn; as the word used signifies, (Job 24:24) . The words may be rendered, "let him (God) direct his arrows; as the tops of the ears of corn are cut off" ^F6; so let them be.

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F6: (wllmty wmk) "concidantur, succidantur instar spicarum", Michaelis.