Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
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.
1 Why boastest thou thyself in thy wickedness, O [a]man of power? the loving-kindness of God endureth daily.
2 Thy tongue imagineth [b]mischief, and is like a sharp razor, that cutteth deceitfully.
3 Thou dost love evil more than good, and lies more than to speak the [c]truth. Selah.
4 Thou lovest all words that may destroy: O deceitful tongue!
5 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.
6 The [f]righteous also shall see it, [g]and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
12 But where is wisdom found? [a]and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not [b]the price thereof: for it is not found in the land of the living.
14 The depth saith, It is not in me: the Sea also saith, It is not with me.
15 [c]Gold shall not be given for it, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It shall not be valued with the wedge of gold of Ophir, nor with the precious onyx, nor the sapphire.
17 The gold nor the crystal shall be equal unto it, nor the exchange shall be for plate of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral, nor of the [d]gabish: for wisdom is more precious than pearls.
19 The Topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal unto it, neither shall it be valued with the wedge of pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding,
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all the living, and is hid from the [e]fowls of the heaven?
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23 But God understandeth the [f]way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24 For he beholdeth the ends of the world, and seeth all that is under heaven,
25 To make the weight of the winds and to weigh the waters by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunders,
27 Then did he see it, and counted it: he prepared it, and also considered it.
28 And unto man he said, Behold, (A)the [g]fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.
13 ¶ (A)[a]Enter in at the strait gate: for it is the wide gate, and broad way that leadeth to destruction: and many there be which go in thereat.
14 Because [b]the gate is strait, and the way narrow that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 ¶ [c]Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. (B)Do men gather grapes of thorns? or figs of thistles?
17 So every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 (C)Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.