Psalm 52:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But 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

NIV: Surely 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.

NASB: 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

CSB: This 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

NLT: But 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

KJV: 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.

NKJV: God 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

David expresses confidence that God will punish Doeg and all who are like him. Doeg was a livestock manager who sided with Saul over David (1 Samuel 22:9–10, 17–19). His words and actions led to the brutal deaths of many innocent people. For that, David sarcastically referred to Doeg as a "mighty man" (Psalm 52:1) and condemned him for his evil tongue (Psalm 52:2–4). The expected reaction to this wickedness is death. David fully expects the Lord to put Doeg to death for his crimes, making him an example to others (Psalm 52:6–7).

Acts 12 mentions another man who preferred evil and was ultimately killed in response to his wicked words. King Herod was a proud persecutor of the righteous. He killed James, the brother of John, and apprehended Peter (Acts 12:1–4). He intended to execute Peter as he had James. But God intervened and freed Peter from prison (Acts 12:6–17). Infuriated, Herod ordered the execution of the prison guards who he believed were responsible for Peter's escape (Acts 12:19). Later, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on a throne, and addressed the people of Tyre and Sidon (Acts 12:20–21). When the people proclaimed that he was a god, immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, and worms consumed him (Acts 12:22–23).

Psalm 52:5–9 closes the song condemning Doeg, the herdsman who betrayed innocent priests to their deaths (Psalm 52:1; 1 Samuel 22:9–10, 17–19). David predicts God's punishment of the evil man. He expects the Lord to snuff out Doeg's life, to the satisfaction of the righteous. In contrast, David is confident God will prosper him, because he prefers what is good and right. In response to God's goodness, David will thank and praise Him.

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.