Psalms 52

For 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.”

1 [a][b]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?
2 You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
3 You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.[c]
4 You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!
5 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.
6 The 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!”
8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
9 For 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.

Cross References 20

  • 1. Psalms 10:3; Psalms 94:4
  • 2. Psalms 44:8
  • 3. Psalms 5:9
  • 4. S Numbers 6:5; Psalms 57:4
  • 5. S Psalms 50:19
  • 6. Exodus 10:10; 1 Samuel 12:25; Amos 5:14-15; John 3:20
  • 7. Psalms 58:3; Jeremiah 9:5; Revelation 21:8
  • 8. Psalms 5:9; Psalms 10:7; Psalms 109:2; Psalms 120:2,3; Proverbs 10:31; Proverbs 12:19
  • 9. S Deuteronomy 29:28; S Job 40:12; Isaiah 22:19; Ezekiel 17:24
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 28:63; Proverbs 2:22
  • 11. S Job 28:13; Psalms 27:13
  • 12. S Job 22:19; Psalms 37:34; Psalms 40:3
  • 13. S 2 Samuel 22:3
  • 14. S Psalms 49:6; S Proverbs 11:28; Mark 10:23
  • 15. S Psalms 1:3; S Revelation 11:4; Jeremiah 11:16
  • 16. Psalms 6:4; Psalms 13:5
  • 17. S Psalms 30:12
  • 18. S Job 7:6; Psalms 25:3
  • 19. Psalms 54:6
  • 20. S Deuteronomy 7:6; Psalms 16:3

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. In Hebrew texts 52:1-9 is numbered 52:3-11.
  • [b]. Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  • [c]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 5.

Psalms 52 Commentaries

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.