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Psalm 52-56
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 52-56
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 52
God Judges the Proud
For the choir director. A Davidic Maskil. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.”(A)
1 Why brag about evil, you hero!(B)
God’s faithful love is constant.(C)
2 Like a sharpened razor,
your tongue devises destruction,
working treachery.(D)
3 You love evil instead of good,
lying instead of speaking truthfully.(E)
4 You love any words that destroy,
you treacherous tongue!(F)
5 This is why God will bring you down forever.
He will take you, ripping you out of your tent;
He will uproot you from the land of the living.(G)
6 The righteous will look on with awe
and will ridicule him:(H)
7 “Here is the man
who would not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches,
taking refuge in his destructive behavior.”[a](I)
8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree
in the house of God;(J)
I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.(K)
9 I will praise You forever for what You have done.
In the presence of Your faithful people,
I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.(L)
Psalm 53
A Portrait of Sinners
For the choir director: on Mahalath.[b](M) A Davidic Maskil.
1 The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.”
They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.(N)
2 God looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.(O)
3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.(P)
4 Will evildoers never understand?
They consume My people as they consume bread;(Q)
they do not call on God.(R)
5 Then they will be filled with terror—
terror like no other(S)—
because God will scatter
the bones of those who besiege you.(T)
You will put them to shame,
for God has rejected them.(U)
6 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of His people,[c]
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.(V)
Psalm 54
Prayer for Deliverance
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding among us?”(W)
1 God, save me by Your name,
and vindicate me by Your might!(X)
2 God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.(Y)
3 For strangers rise up against me,
and violent men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.[d](Z)
4 God is my helper;
the Lord is the sustainer of my life.[e](AA)
5 He will repay my adversaries for their evil.
Because of Your faithfulness, annihilate them.(AB)
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You.(AC)
I will praise Your name, Yahweh,
because it is good.(AD)
7 For He has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked down on my enemies.(AE)
Psalm 55
Betrayal by a Friend
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.
1 God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore[f] my plea for help.(AF)
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.(AG)
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,(AH)
3 because of the enemy’s voice,
because of the pressure[g] of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me[h]
and harass me in anger.(AI)
4 My heart shudders within me;(AJ)
terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.(AK)
6 I said, “If only I had[i] wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.(AL)
7 How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.(AM)
8 I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.”(AN)
9 Lord, confuse[j] and confound their speech,[k](AO)
for I see violence and strife in the city;
10 day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;(AP)
11 destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.(AQ)
12 Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!(AR)
14 We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.(AS)
15 Let death take them by surprise;(AT)
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.(AU)
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.(AV)
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,(AW)
and He hears my voice.(AX)
18 Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed.(AY)
19 God, the One enthroned from long ago,(AZ)
will hear and will humiliate them
because they do not change
and do not fear God.(BA)
20 My friend(BB) acts violently
against those at peace with him;(BC)
he violates his covenant.(BD)
21 His buttery words are smooth,[l]
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.(BE)
22 Cast your burden on the Lord,
and He will sustain you;(BF)
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.(BG)
23 God, You will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;(BH)
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days.(BI)
But I will trust in You.(BJ)
Psalm 56
A Call for God’s Protection
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.”[m] A Davidic Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.(BK)
1 Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
2 My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.[n](BL)
3 When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.(BM)
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(BN)
5 They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.(BO)
6 They stir up strife,[o] they lurk;
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.(BP)
7 Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.(BQ)
8 You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.[p]
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?(BR)
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.(BS)
This I know: God is for me.(BT)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(BU)
12 I am obligated by vows[q] to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You.(BV)
13 For You delivered me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.(BW)
Footnotes
- Psalm 52:7 Or riches, and grew strong in his evil desire; lit his destruction
- Psalm 53:1 Perhaps a tune, a musical instrument, or a dance; this may be related to Hb word for “sickness.”
- Psalm 53:6 Or restores His captive people
- Psalm 54:3 Lit They do not set God before them
- Psalm 54:4 Or is with those who sustain my life
- Psalm 55:1 Lit hide Yourself from
- Psalm 55:3 Or threat, or oppression
- Psalm 55:3 LXX, Syr, Sym; MT reads they cause me to totter
- Psalm 55:6 Lit “Who will give to me . . . dove?
- Psalm 55:9 Or destroy
- Psalm 55:9 Lit and divide their tongue
- Psalm 55:21 Some Hb mss, Sym, Syr, Tg, Jer read His speech is smoother than butter
- Psalm 56:1 Possibly a tune
- Psalm 56:2 Or many fight against me, O exalted One, or many fight against me from the heights
- Psalm 56:6 Or They attack
- Psalm 56:8 Or misery
- Psalm 56:12 Lit On me the vows
Psalm 52-56
New International Version
Psalm 52-56
New International Version
Psalm 52[a]
For the director of music. A maskil[b] of David. When Doeg the Edomite(A) had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
Why do you boast(B) all day long,(C)
you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
2 You who practice deceit,(D)
your tongue plots destruction;(E)
it is like a sharpened razor.(F)
3 You love evil(G) rather than good,
falsehood(H) rather than speaking the truth.[c]
4 You love every harmful word,
you deceitful tongue!(I)
5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
He will snatch you up and pluck(J) you from your tent;
he will uproot(K) you from the land of the living.(L)
6 The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh(M) at you, saying,
7 “Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold(N)
but trusted in his great wealth(O)
and grew strong by destroying others!”
8 But I am like an olive tree(P)
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust(Q) in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
9 For what you have done I will always praise you(R)
in the presence of your faithful people.(S)
And I will hope in your name,(T)
for your name is good.(U)
Psalm 53[d](V)
For the director of music. According to mahalath.[e] A maskil[f] of David.
1 The fool(W) says in his heart,
“There is no God.”(X)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven(Y)
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(Z)
any who seek God.(AA)
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.(AB)
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.(AC)
God scattered the bones(AD) of those who attacked you;(AE)
you put them to shame,(AF) for God despised them.(AG)
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Psalm 54[g]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[h] of David. When the Ziphites(AH) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
1 Save me(AI), O God, by your name;(AJ)
vindicate me by your might.(AK)
2 Hear my prayer, O God;(AL)
listen to the words of my mouth.
3 Arrogant foes are attacking me;(AM)
ruthless people(AN) are trying to kill me(AO)—
people without regard for God.[i](AP)
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering(AU) to you;
I will praise(AV) your name, Lord, for it is good.(AW)
7 You have delivered me(AX) from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(AY)
Psalm 55[j]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[k] of David.
1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
do not ignore my plea;(AZ)
2 hear me and answer me.(BA)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(BB)
3 because of what my enemy is saying,
because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(BC)
and assail(BD) me in their anger.(BE)
4 My heart is in anguish(BF) within me;
the terrors(BG) of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling(BH) have beset me;
horror(BI) has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;[l](BJ)
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,(BK)
far from the tempest and storm.(BL)”
9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(BM)
for I see violence and strife(BN) in the city.(BO)
10 Day and night they prowl(BP) about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(BQ) are at work in the city;
threats and lies(BR) never leave its streets.
12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,(BS)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(BT)
at the house of God,(BU)
as we walked about
among the worshipers.
15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(BV)
let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(BW)
for evil finds lodging among them.
16 As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(BX) morning(BY) and noon(BZ)
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(CA)
who does not change—
he will hear(CB) them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God.(CC)
20 My companion attacks his friends;(CD)
he violates his covenant.(CE)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(CF)
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(CG)
yet they are drawn swords.(CH)
22 Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;(CI)
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.(CJ)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
into the pit(CK) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(CL)
will not live out half their days.(CM)
But as for me, I trust in you.(CN)
Psalm 56[m]
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[n] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.
1 Be merciful to me,(CO) my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(CP)
all day long they press their attack.(CQ)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(CR)
in their pride many are attacking me.(CS)
3 When I am afraid,(CT) I put my trust in you.(CU)
4 In God, whose word I praise—(CV)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(CW)
What can mere mortals do to me?(CX)
5 All day long they twist my words;(CY)
all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(CZ) they lurk,
they watch my steps,(DA)
hoping to take my life.(DB)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[o] let them escape;(DC)
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(DD)
8 Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll[p](DE)—
are they not in your record?(DF)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(DG)
when I call for help.(DH)
By this I will know that God is for me.(DI)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
Footnotes
- Psalm 52:1 In Hebrew texts 52:1-9 is numbered 52:3-11.
- Psalm 52:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 52:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 5.
- Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
- Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
- Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
- Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
- Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
- Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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