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Futility of boastful wickedness.

For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

52 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?
The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.
Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Thou lovest evil more than good,
And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah
Thou lovest all devouring words,
[a]O thou deceitful tongue.
God will likewise [b]destroy thee for ever;
He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent,
And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah
The righteous also shall see it, and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
Lo, this is the man that made not God his [c]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 the house of God:
I trust in the lovingkindness of God for ever and ever.
I will give thee thanks for ever, because thou hast done it;
And I will hope in thy name, for it is good, in the presence of thy saints.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 52:4 Or, And the deceitful tongue
  2. Psalm 52:5 Or, break thee down
  3. Psalm 52:7 Or, stronghold

The End of the Wicked and the Peace of the Godly

To the Chief Musician. A [a]Contemplation of David (A)when Doeg the Edomite went and (B)told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

52 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.

God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his [b]wickedness.”

But I am (C)like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it [c]is good.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 52:1 Heb. Maschil
  2. Psalm 52:7 Lit. desire, in evil sense
  3. Psalm 52:9 Or has a good reputation

God Will Punish the Proud

For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David is in Ahimelech’s house.”

52 Mighty warrior, why do you brag about the evil you do?
    God’s love will continue forever.
You think up evil plans.
    Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
    making up lies.
You love wrong more than right
    and lies more than truth. Selah
You love words that bite
    and tongues that lie.

But God will ruin you forever.
    He will grab you and throw you out of your tent;
    he will tear you away from the land of the living. Selah
Those who do right will see this and fear God.
    They will laugh at you and say,
“Look what happened to the man
    who did not depend on God
but depended on his money.
    He grew strong by his evil plans.”

But I am like an olive tree
    growing in God’s Temple.
I trust God’s love
    forever and ever.
God, I will thank you forever for what you have done.
    With those who worship you, I will trust you because you are good.