52 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

The tongue deviseth mischiefs; 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, O thou deceitful tongue.

God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:

Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

Trust in God’s Love

52 Why do you take pride in wrong-doing, O powerful man? The loving-kindness of God lasts all day long. Your tongue makes plans to destroy like a sharp knife, you who lie. You love what is bad more than what is good, and you speak lies more than you speak the truth. You love all words that destroy, O lying tongue.

But God will destroy you forever. He will pick you up and pull you away from your tent. He will pull up your roots from the land of the living. And those who are right will see and be afraid. They will laugh at him, saying, “Look, the man who would not make God his safe place, but trusted in his many riches and was strong in his sinful desire.”

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the loving-kindness of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever because of what You have done. And I will hope in Your name, for it is good to be where those who belong to You are.

52 1 David describeth the arrogant tyranny of his adversary Doeg: who by false surmises cause Ahimelech with the rest of the Priests to be slain. 5 David prophesieth his destruction,  6 and encourageth the faithful to put their confidence in God, whose judgments are most sharp against his adversaries. 9 And finally, he rendereth thanks to God for his deliverance.  In this Psalm is timely set forth the kingdom of Antichrist.

To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David to give instruction. When Doeg the Edomite came and showed Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

Why boastest thou thyself in thy wickedness, O [a]man of power? the loving-kindness of God endureth daily.

Thy tongue imagineth [b]mischief, and is like a sharp razor, that cutteth deceitfully.

Thou dost love evil more than good, and lies more than to speak the [c]truth. Selah.

Thou lovest all words that may destroy: O deceitful tongue!

So shall God [d]destroy thee forever: he shall take thee and pluck thee out of thy tabernacle, and [e]root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

The [f]righteous also shall see it, [g]and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,

Behold the man that took not God for his strength, but trusteth unto the multitude of his riches, and put his strength [h]in his malice.

But I shall be like a [i]green olive tree in the house of God: for I trusted in the mercy of God forever and ever.

I will always praise thee, for that thou hast done [j]this, and I will [k]hope in thy name, because it is good before thy Saints.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 52:1 O Doeg, which hast credit with the tyrant Saul, and hast power to murder the Saints of God.
  2. Psalm 52:2 Thy malice moveth thee by crafty flatteries and lies to accuse and destroy the innocents.
  3. Psalm 52:3 Hebrew, righteousness.
  4. Psalm 52:5 Though God forbear for a time, yet at length he will recompense thy falsehood.
  5. Psalm 52:5 Albeit thou seem to be never so sure settled.
  6. Psalm 52:6 For the eyes of the reprobate are shut up at God’s judgments.
  7. Psalm 52:6 With joyful reverence, seeing that he taketh their part against the wicked.
  8. Psalm 52:7 Or, in his substance.
  9. Psalm 52:8 He rejoiceth to have a place among the servants of God, that he may grow in the knowledge of godliness.
  10. Psalm 52:9 Executed his vengeance.
  11. Psalm 52:9 Or, wait upon thy grace and promise.