Add parallel Print Page Options

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

Judgment on the Deceitful

To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

Why do you boast, O mighty one,
    of mischief done against the godly?[a]
All day long(A)     you are plotting destruction.
Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
    you worker of treachery.(B)
You love evil more than good
    and lying more than speaking the truth. Selah(C)
You love all words that devour,
    O deceitful tongue.(D)

But God will break you down forever;
    he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
    he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah(E)
The righteous will see and fear
    and will laugh at the evildoer,[b] saying,(F)
“See the one who would not take
    refuge in God
but trusted in abundant riches
    and sought refuge in wealth!”[c](G)

But I am like a green olive tree
    in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
    forever and ever.(H)
I will thank you forever
    because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful
    I will proclaim[d] your name, for it is good.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 52.1 Cn Compare Syr: Heb the kindness of God
  2. 52.6 Heb him
  3. 52.7 Syr Tg: Heb in his destruction
  4. 52.9 Cn: Heb wait for