Psalm 52:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

NIV: You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.

NASB: Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

CSB: Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.

NLT: All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies.

KJV: Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

NKJV: Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Doeg the Edomite informed David's enemy Saul about David's encounter with the priest Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:9–10). He then slaughtered those priests and countless innocents at Saul's command (1 Samuel 22:17–19). For this, David sarcastically calls him a "mighty man" and condemns him for arrogance (Psalm 52:1).

Those killed by Doeg were ultimately done in by his words. Doeg saw David with the priest, and he chose to pass that information to the unstable, murderous King Saul. Little is recorded about that event (1 Samuel 21:1–9), but this verse implies Doeg was dishonest in his account. Perhaps he exaggerated the support given by the priest. Or, he might have withheld information to make himself look more heroic for informing. Either way, his words led to horrific violence against innocent people. His tongue acts like a razor, slashing those against whom he speaks (Psalm 57:4).

In Psalm 55:21, David describes the deceitful nature of an enemy's speech: "smooth as butter," although "war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords." The apostle Paul warned the churches of Galatia about deceitful men like Doeg. They flattered the Galatian believers to win them to their side, away from the truth. He asks in Galatians 3:1, "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" He accuses the false teachers, in Galatians 4:17, of making much of the Galatians, "but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them."

Psalm 52:1–4 depicts a "mighty man." The description is probably sarcastic: it refers to the herdsman Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9–10) who betrayed David and murdered priests (1 Samuel 22:17–19). David's song portrays Doeg as someone who brags about his own sin and whose words are maliciously dangerous. He practices evil despite God's unfailing, endless love. That love will lead to judgment for those who practice such evil (Psalm 52:5).

David addresses "mighty man," possibly with a touch of sarcasm. This person brags about his intentions, and his words destroy others. However, God will punish this wicked person by bringing about his death. The righteous will see this judgment and mock those who trusted in their resources instead of trusting in the Lord. By contrast, David trusts God's unfailing love forever, resulting in his continuous praise of the Lord. This song was written in response to the treachery of Doeg, who betrayed one of David's allies (1 Samuel 22:9–10) and killed many priests (1 Samuel 22:17–19).

This psalm describes the wicked character of someone addressed as "mighty man." This was Doeg, a herdsman who supported King Saul against David. Doeg slaughtered the household of Ahimelech because Ahimelech helped David by giving him provisions (1 Samuel 21:1–9; 22:6–23). While not as famous as others, this is one of the "imprecatory psalms" which call for God's judgment against evildoers (Psalm 35; 69; 109).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.