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Psalm chapter 52

English Standard Version

1Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. 2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. 3You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah 4You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. 5But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah 6The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 7"See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!" 8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. 9I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
New International Version

1For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: "David has gone to the house of Ahimelek." Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 2You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. 3You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
4You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! 5Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. 6The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying,
7"Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!" 8But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. 9For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.
New American Standard Bible

1Why do you boast in evil, you mighty man? The faithfulness of God endures all day long. 2Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. 3You love evil more than good, Lies more than speaking what is right. Selah 4You love all words that devour, You deceitful tongue. 5 But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah 6The righteous will see and fear, And they will laugh at him, saying, 7'Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.' 8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the faithfulness of God forever and ever. 9I will praise You forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.
Christian Standard Bible

1For the choir director. A Maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, "David went to Ahimelech’s house." Why boast about evil, you hero! God’s faithful love is constant. 2Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.
3You love evil instead of good, lying instead of speaking truthfully. Selah
4You love any words that destroy, you treacherous tongue!
5This 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. Selah 6The righteous will see and fear, and they will derisively say about that hero,
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." 8But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever. 9I 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.
New Living Translation

1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior? Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever? 2All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies.
3You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. Interlude
4You love to destroy others with your words, you liar!
5But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living. Interlude
6The righteous will see it and be amazed. They will laugh and say, 7'Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.'
8But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love. 9I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.
King James Version

1To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
4Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
5God 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.
6The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:
7Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
9I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
New King James Version

1{To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”} Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually. 2Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
4You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.
5God 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
6The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, 7“Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.” 8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. 9I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

What does Psalm chapter 52 mean?

This psalm is tied to Doeg, the Edomite herdsman who sided with Saul over David. Doeg saw David speaking with Ahimelech when David was first a fugitive from Saul (1 Samuel 21:1–9). Supplied by the priest, David continued to flee from Saul. Saul heard David had been found and asked his servants why they had not told him about David's covenant with Saul's son Jonathan. Doeg answered by telling Saul about David's interaction with Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:9–10). Saul called Ahimelech and his family (the other priests). Ahimelech defended his support of David, who had always been a faithful servant of the king, but Saul ordered the execution of the priests. Saul's own men refused his order to execute the priests, but Doeg agreed, slaughtering eighty-five priests plus countless innocents in their city (1 Samuel 22:17–19). For this, David mockingly calls him a "mighty man," and condemns his murderous words. Whether Doeg lied, exaggerated, or merely spoke unwisely, he is reviled for his role in this atrocity (Psalm 52:1–4).

David is confident God will counter to Doeg's evil with retribution. He uses vivid language to depict God "snatching" and "tearing" the evil person into death, like someone ripping a plant out by the roots. In response, David anticipates godly people revering the Lord. They will see this as an example of what happens when someone trusts their own resources, rather than in God (Psalm 52:5–7).

For his part, David expects to be blessed by God. While Doeg will be "uprooted" (Psalm 52:5), David is firmly planted in God's will. He compares this to an olive tree, which can live a long, productive life (Psalm 1:3). Scripture does not include any resolution to Doeg's story; we are not told if or when he suffered retribution for his crimes. Yet such judgment is inevitable—either in earthly life or in eternity (Proverbs 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; Hebrews 4:13; Revelation 20:11–15). Anticipating this, though it had not yet happened, David resolves to join other believers in praise and worship (Psalm 52:8–9).

This song is identified with the Hebrew word maskiyl. This appears to be a type of pensive, somber song of self-reflection (Psalm 32; 52; 89). It is directed to a "choirmaster," a minister of music in the tabernacle or temple; this role is mentioned in the early text of fifty-five psalms.
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