USB ~ Psalms 52

The Deceitful Tongue

1 For the leader. A maskil of David,

2 when Doeg the Edomite entered and reported to Saul, saying to him: “David has entered the house of Ahimelech.” a

3 Why do you glory in what is evil, you who are mighty by the mercy of God? All day long

4 you are thinking up intrigues; your tongue is like a sharpened razor, you worker of deceit. b

5 You love evil more than good, lying rather than saying what is right. cSelah

6 You love all the words that create confusion, you deceitful tongue. d

7 God too will strike you down forever, he will lay hold of you and pluck you from your tent, uproot you from the land of the living. eSelah*

8 The righteous will see and they will fear; but they will laugh at him: f

9 “Behold the man! He did not take God as his refuge, but he trusted in the abundance of his wealth, and grew powerful through his wickedness.” g

III

10 But I, like an olive tree† flourishing in the house of God, h I trust in God’s mercy forever and ever.

11 I will thank you forever for what you have done. I will put my hope in your name—for it is good, i —in the presence of those devoted to you.

Footnotes

†. Psalm 52 A condemnation of the powerful and arrogant (Ps 52:3-6), who bring down upon themselves God’s judgment (Ps 52:7). The just, those who trust in God alone, are gladdened and strengthened by the downfall of their traditional enemies (Ps 52:8-9).

†. 52:10 Like an olive tree: the righteous will flourish in the house of God like a well-watered olive tree, cf. Ps 92:14; 128:3.

52:2 1 Sm 21:8; 22:6ff.
52:4 Ps 12:3; 59:8; 120:2-3; Sir 51:3.
52:5 Jer 4:22; Jn 3:19-20.
52:6 Jer 9:4.
52:7 Ps 27:13; 28:5; 56:14; Jb 18:14; Prv 2:22; Is 38:11.
52:8 Ps 44:14; 64:9.
52:9 Jb 31:24; Prv 11:28.
52:10 Ps 1:3; 92:12-14; Jer 11:16; 17:8.
52:11 Ps 22:23; 26:12; 35:18; 149:1.