Psalm 52 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 52

Judgment on the Deceitful

To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast, O mighty one,
of mischief done against the godly?[a]
All day long(A)2 you are plotting destruction.
Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
you worker of treachery.(B)
3 You love evil more than good
and lying more than speaking the truth. Selah(C)
4 You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.(D)

5 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(E)
6 The righteous will see and fear
and will laugh at the evildoer,[b] saying,(F)
7 “See the one who would not take
refuge in God
but trusted in abundant riches
and sought refuge in wealth!”[c](G)

8 But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.(H)
9 I will thank you forever
because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful
I will proclaim[d] your name, for it is good.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 52.1Cn Compare Syr: Heb the kindness of God
  2. 52.6Heb him
  3. 52.7Syr Tg: Heb in his destruction
  4. 52.9Cn: Heb wait for

Cross references

  1. 52.1 : 1 Sam 22.9; Ps 94.4
  2. 52.2 : Ps 50.19; 57.4
  3. 52.3 : Jer 9.4, 5
  4. 52.4 : Ps 120.3
  5. 52.5 : Ps 27.13; Prov 2.22
  6. 52.6 : Ps 37.34; 40.3
  7. 52.7 : Ps 49.6
  8. 52.8 : Ps 13.5; Jer 11.16
  9. 52.9 : Ps 30.12; 54.6