Psalm 52In Hebrew texts 52:1-9 is numbered 52:3-11.
For the director of music. A maskilTitle: Probably a literary or musical term of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1Why 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.52:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 5.
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.
Psalm 52
For the director of music. A maskil of David when Doeg, who was from Edom, had gone to Saul. Doeg had told Saul, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1You think you are such a big, strong man!
Why do you brag about the evil things you’ve done?
You are a dishonor to God all the time.
2You plan ways to destroy others.
Your tongue is like a blade that has a sharp edge.
You are always telling lies.
3You love evil instead of good.
You would rather lie than tell the truth.
4You love to harm others with your words, you liar!
5So God will destroy you forever.
He will grab you and pluck you from your tent.
He will remove you from this life.
6Those who do what is right will see it and learn a lesson from it.
They will laugh at you and say,
7“Just look at this fellow!
He didn’t depend on God for his safety.
He put his trust in all his wealth.
He grew strong by destroying others!”
8But I am like a healthy olive tree.
My roots are deep in the house of God.
I trust in your faithful love
for ever and ever.
9I will praise you forever for what you have done.
I will praise you when I’m with your faithful people.
I will put my hope in you because you are good.
