Translations
KJVPrimary
King James VersionTo the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
F.O.G.Secondary
The F.O.GTo the Director—Al-Tashheth; a Miktam of David. Do you mighty ones truly speak what is right? Do you judge the sons of Adam with equity?
F.O.G.M.
F.O.G MessageFor the choir director; to the tune of 'Do Not Destroy.' A Miktam of David. Do you rulers truly declare what is right? Do you judge the children of men with fairness?
BSB
Berean Standard BibleFor 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?
Footnotes
The superscription contains two technical puzzles. *Al-Tashheth* ('Do Not Destroy') likely names a known melody or performance instruction. *Miktam* (מִכְתָּם) is of uncertain meaning — possibly from *ketem* ('gold'), yielding 'a golden poem,' or from a root meaning 'to cover/inscribe,' suggesting a confessional or inscribed composition; the genre designation remains debated. The crux of v.1 is *elem* (אֵלֶם): as written, it means 'silence/muteness' (from *alam*), and could indict the judges for their conspicuous silence about justice. By a widely accepted emendation to *elim*, it denotes divine beings or powerful rulers seated in a heavenly council (cf. Ps. 82). FOG renders 'mighty ones' to honour the ANE divine-council background, where corrupt heavenly powers over the nations are addressed; FOG Message uses 'rulers' to anchor the indictment squarely in the human abuse of judicial power.
