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.

¶ And Saul heard that David was [a]discovered, and the men that were with him, and Saul remained in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants stood about him.

And Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, the sons [b]of Benjamin, will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards: will he make you all captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds:

That all ye have conspired against me, and there is none that telleth me that my son hath made a covenant with the son of Jesse? and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or showeth me, that my [c]son hath stirred up my servant to lie in wait against me, as appeareth this day?

¶ Then answered Doeg the Edomite, (who was appointed over the servants of Saul) and said, I saw the son of Jesse, when he came to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub,

10 Who asked counsel of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and he gave him also the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

11 Then the King sent to call Ahimelech the Priest the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, to wit, [d]the Priests that were in Nob: and they came all to the King.

12 And Saul said, Hear now thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

13 Then Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him victual, and a sword, and hast asked counsel of God for him, that he should rise against me, and lie in wait as appeareth this day?

14 And Ahimelech answered the King, and said, Who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, being also the king’s son-in-law, and goeth at thy commandment, and is honorable in thine house?

15 [e]Have I this day first begun to ask counsel of God for him? be it far from me, let not the king impute anything unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less nor more.

16 Then the King said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.

17 And the King said unto the [f]sergeants that stood about him, Turn, and slay the Priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and showed it not unto me. But the servants of the King [g]would not move their hands to fall upon the Priests of the Lord.

18 Then the King said to Doeg, Turn thou and fall upon the Priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and ran upon the Priests, and slew that same day fourscore and five persons, that did wear a linen Ephod.

19 Also Nob the city of the Priests smote he with the edge of the sword, both man and woman, both child and suckling, both ox and ass, and sheep with the edge of the sword.

20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub (whose name was Abiathar) [h]escaped and fled after David.

21 And Abiathar showed David, that Saul had slain the Lord’s Priests.

22 And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it the same day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would tell Saul. I am the cause of the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.

23 Abide thou with me, and fear not: for [i]he that seeketh my life, shall seek thy life also: for with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 22:6 That a great brute went on him.
  2. 1 Samuel 22:7 Ye that are of my tribe and lineage.
  3. 1 Samuel 22:8 Hereby he would persuade them that this conspiracy was most horrible, where the son conspired against the father, and the servant against his master.
  4. 1 Samuel 22:11 Which were the remnant of the house of Eli, whose house God threatened to punish.
  5. 1 Samuel 22:15 Have I not at other times also, when he had great affairs, consulted with the Lord for him?
  6. 1 Samuel 22:17 Or, footmen.
  7. 1 Samuel 22:17 For they knew that they ought not to obey the wicked commandment of the king in slaying the innocents.
  8. 1 Samuel 22:20 This was God’s providence, who according to his promise preserved some of the house of Eli, 1 Sam. 2:33.
  9. 1 Samuel 22:23 Or, he that taketh thy life, shall take mine also.

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