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Psalm 58:11
so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”
9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.
10The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
11so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”
Notice
After the bloodshed pictured in the preceding lines, the repeated “Most certainly” expresses confidence that evil will face judgment and the righteous will receive their reward.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
Where does the promise of a reward for the righteous meet your doubts about doing right?
Write on thisHow does naming God as judge shape your response to the psalm’s picture of vengeance?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
2 Chronicles 15:7But you be strong! Don’t let your hands be slack, for your work will be rewarded.”Both passages affirm that reward lies ahead, with Chronicles encouraging continued work and the psalm declaring a reward for the righteous.
Hebrews 11:6Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.Both passages link confidence in God’s existence with confidence that he rewards those who seek him and live righteously.
Genesis 15:1After these things the LORD’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”Reward links these passages: the psalm declares a reward for the righteous, while God names himself as Abram’s reward.
Matthew 5:12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Both passages affirm a reward, with Matthew locating that reward in heaven and the psalm connecting it with God’s judgment.
Isaiah 3:10Tell the righteous that it will be well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.Both passages declare a good outcome for the righteous: a reward in the psalm and the fruit of their deeds in Isaiah.
Psalm 67:4Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you will judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations on earth. Selah.Both psalms declare that God judges people on earth, with Psalm 67 naming the equity of his judgment.
Psalm 33:18Behold, the LORD’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness,Both passages speak of God’s regard for those who honor him, though Psalm 33 emphasizes his watchful care rather than reward.
Psalm 64:9All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, and shall wisely ponder what he has done.Both psalms picture people speaking about God in response to what he has done.
Malachi 3:14You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God,’ and ‘What profit is it that we have followed his instructions and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of …The psalm affirms a reward for the righteous where Malachi records the complaint that serving God brings no profit.
Malachi 2:17You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the LORD’s sight, and he …The psalm declares that God judges the earth, while Malachi records people questioning whether the God of justice is present.
Romans 2:5But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of …Both passages affirm God’s judgment, with Romans warning that an unrepentant heart stores up wrath for the day of judgment.
Romans 6:21–22What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.Both passages connect how people live with what follows: reward for the righteous in the psalm, death for shameful deeds in Romans.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. doubt. waiting.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The vengeance described here belongs to God’s judgment; it gives no warrant for personal violence. The closing claim remains firm: God judges the earth, and the righteous have a reward.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).