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For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to Ahimelech’s house.”

52 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man?
    God’s loving kindness endures continually.
Your tongue plots destruction,
    like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good,
    lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.
You love all devouring words,
    you deceitful tongue.
God will likewise destroy you forever.
    He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent,
    and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
The righteous also will see it, and fear,
    and laugh at him, saying,
“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength,
    but trusted in the abundance of his riches,
    and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house.
    I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it.
    I will hope in your name, for it is good,
    in the presence of your saints.

Psalm 52

To the Chief Musician. A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem. [A Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, David has come to the house of Ahimelech.

Why boast you of mischief done against the loving-kindness of God [and the godly], O mighty [sinful] man, day after day?

Your tongue devises wickedness; it is like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

You love evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness, justice, and right. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

You love all destroying and devouring words, O deceitful tongue.

God will likewise break you down and destroy you forever; He will lay hold of you and pluck you out of your tent and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

The [uncompromisingly] righteous also shall see [it] and be in reverent fear and awe, but about you they will [scoffingly] laugh, saying,

See, this is the man who made not God his strength (his stronghold and high tower) but trusted in and confidently relied on the abundance of his riches, seeking refuge and security for himself through his wickedness.

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever.

I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones).