Psalms 58 in the early church

92 passages quote, allude to, or echo Psalms 58, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11

Psalms 58:1

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:1 (57:2 LXX)	PG 12:1467 (Ps 56–57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:1 (57:2 LXX)	PG 12:1469 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:1 (57:1 LXX)	Letter to Marcellinus 20 · Athanasius of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	uncertain, after 335
Ps 58:1 (57:2 Vulg.)	Historical Fragments 2.7.8.1 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 343–367
Ps 58:1 (57:2 LXX)	On Saint Athanasius 1.24 · Lucifer of Cagliari	quotation, high confidence	ca. 356–361
Ps 58:1 (57:1 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 57.1 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 58:1–2 (57:2-Ps Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 57.2 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 58:1 (57:2 LXX)	Homilies 12.8 · Basil of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 363-378
Ps 58:1–11 (57:1-Ps LXX)	Psalm 57 · Apollinaris of Laodicea	quotation, high confidence	uncertain (fourth to sixth century)
Ps 58:1 (57:2 LXX)	On the Christian Struggle 29 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 396–397
Ps 58:1 (57:2 LXX)	On Baptism, against the Donatists 2.10 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400–401

Psalms 58:2

No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:2 (57:3 LXX)	PG 12:1469 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:2 (57:3 LXX)	Fragment 117 on John 2:13 (Munich codex 208 appendix) · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 226-254
Ps 58:2–8 (57:3-Ps LXX)	On Saint Athanasius 1.25 · Lucifer of Cagliari	quotation, high confidence	ca. 356–361

Psalms 58:3

The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Against Heresies 3.10.1 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Against Heresies 4.41.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	PG 12:1253 (Ps 20–21 LXX) · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	PG 12:1471 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	On Prayer 5.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 233–234
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Homilies on Leviticus 8.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 3.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Against Celsus 7.50 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Commentary on Romans 1.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Commentary on Romans 8.11 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Ps 58:3–5 (57:4-Ps Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 57.3 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 58:3 (57:4 LXX)	Oration 37.14 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Ps 58:3 (57:4 Vulg.)	On Fleeing the World 42 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-391
Ps 58:3–8 (57:4-Ps LXX)	Apology against Rufinus 3.43 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 401–402

Psalms 58:4

Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Martyrdom of Andrew (first Greek martyrdom), chapter 13 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 150-200 (the Acts); the Martyrdom text is later
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Exhortation to the Greeks 10.105 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 190–200
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Against Heresies 4.41.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons	quotation, high confidence	ca. 180–190
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Miscellanies 7.16.102 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	On the Psalms, fragment 3 · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 200–235
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 913 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	PG 12:1239 (Ps 17–18 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	PG 12:1471 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	PG 12:1669 (Ps 145–146 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Commentary on John 6.124 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 230–248
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	On Prayer 21.2 · Origen	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 233–234
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Homilies on Joshua 20.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Instructions 2.9 · Commodian	allusion, medium confidence	3rd century (disputed)
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Commentary on the Song of Songs 3.211 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Oration 2.20 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Oration 40.34 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Letter 139.1 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.66.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, high confidence	374-377
Ps 58:4 (57:5 LXX)	Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 26 · Evagrius of Gaul	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400
Ps 58:4 (57:5 Vulg.)	On Fleeing the World 42 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-391
Ps 58:4 (57:5 Vulg.)	Sermon 315.5 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Ps 58:4–5 (57:5-Ps Vulg.)	Sermon 316.2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 391-430
Ps 58:4 (57:5 Vulg.)	Letters 15.4 · Paulinus of Nola	allusion, high confidence	ca. 394–413
Ps 58:4–5 (57:5-Ps LXX)	Apology against Rufinus 3.11 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 401–402
Ps 58:4–5 (57:5-6 LXX)	Commentary on Jeremiah 2.29 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 414-419
Ps 58:4–5 (57:5-Ps Vulg.)	Against Five Heresies 3 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	allusion, high confidence	ca. 437-450

Psalms 58:5

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

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:5 (57:6 LXX)	Exhortation to the Greeks 10.105 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 190–200
Ps 58:5 (57:6 LXX)	Miscellanies 7.16.102 · Clement of Alexandria	quotation, high confidence	ca. 198–203
Ps 58:5 (57:6 LXX)	PG 12:1471 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:5 (57:6 LXX)	Homilies on Joshua 20.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Ps 58:5 (57:6 LXX)	Letter 78.38 · Jerome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 370–419
Ps 58:5 (57:6 LXX)	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.66.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Ps 58:5 (57:6 LXX)	Altercatio, chapter 2, speech 26 · Evagrius of Gaul	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400
Ps 58:5 (57:6 Vulg.)	On Fleeing the World 42 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-391

Psalms 58:6

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

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	Fragments on Job, column 103 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	PG 12:1095 (Ps 1 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	PG 12:1471 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	On Prayer 13.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 233–234
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	Homilies on Exodus 10.4 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	Res. 1.23 · Methodius of Olympus	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd cent. (disputed)
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	Res. 3.8 · Methodius of Olympus	quotation, high confidence	late 3rd cent. (disputed)
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	Church History 10.4.28 · Eusebius of Caesarea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 300–325
Ps 58:6–8 (57:7-Ps Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 57.4 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 64.16.2 · Epiphanius of Salamis	quotation, high confidence	374-377
Ps 58:6 (57:7 LXX)	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 47.22.3 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-397

Psalms 58:7

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

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:7 (57:8 LXX)	PG 12:1471 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:7 (57:8 LXX)	On Prayer 13.3 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 233–234
Ps 58:7 (57:8 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 143.15 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 58:7 (57:8 Vulg.)	On the Governance of God 7.40 · Salvian of Marseilles	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 439-451

Psalms 58:8

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

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:8 (57:9 LXX)	PG 12:1471 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:8 (57:9 LXX)	Commentary on Daniel 7, scholion 38 · Polychronius of Apamea	quotation, high confidence	ca. 400-430

Psalms 58:9

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

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:9 (57:10 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 57.5 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 58:9 (57:10 Vulg.)	Instructions 1.20 · Eucherius of Lyon	quotation, high confidence	ca. 428-434

Psalms 58:10

The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:10 (57:11 LXX)	PG 12:1471 (Ps 57 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:10 (57:11 LXX)	PG 12:1473 (Ps 57–59 LXX) · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 58:10 (57:11 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 25.6 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Ps 58:10–11 (57:11-Ps Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 57.6 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 58:10 (57:11 LXX)	Exposition of Psalm 118 7.24.2 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386-397
Ps 58:10 (57:11 LXX)	Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.32.4 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 387-397
Ps 58:10 (57:11 Vulg.)	Poem 9, lines 32–71 · Paulinus of Nola	echo, low confidence	ca. 393–431
Ps 58:10–11 (57:11-Ps LXX)	Apology against Rufinus 3.43 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 401–402
Ps 58:10 (57:11 Vulg.)	Instructions 1.21 · Eucherius of Lyon	allusion, high confidence	ca. 428-434

Psalms 58:11

Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 58:11 (57:12 LXX)	On the Psalms, fragment 3 · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 200–235
Ps 58:11 (57:12 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 57.7 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367