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Futility of boastful wickedness.

For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

52 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?
The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.
Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Thou lovest evil more than good,
And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah
Thou lovest all devouring words,
[a]O thou deceitful tongue.
God will likewise [b]destroy thee for ever;
He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent,
And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah
The righteous also shall see it, and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
Lo, this is the man that made not God his [c]strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.
But as for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God:
I trust in the lovingkindness of God for ever and ever.
I will give thee thanks for ever, because thou hast done it;
And I will hope in thy name, for it is good, in the presence of thy saints.

The folly and wickedness of men.

For the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath. Maschil of David.

53 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none that doeth good.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there were any that did [d]understand,
That did seek after God.
Every one of them is gone back; they are together become filthy;
There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And call not upon God?
There were they in great fear, where no fear was;
For God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee:
Thou hast put them to shame, because God hath rejected them.
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!
When God [e]bringeth back the captivity of his people,
Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Prayer for defence against enemies.

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David; when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?

54 Save me, O God, by thy name,
And judge me in thy might.
Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
For strangers are risen up against me,
And violent men have sought after my soul:
They have not set God before them. Selah
Behold, God is my helper:
The Lord is [f]of them that uphold my soul.
[g]He will requite the evil unto [h]mine enemies:
Destroy thou them in thy truth.
With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto thee:
I will give thanks unto thy name, O Jehovah, for it is good.
For he hath delivered me out of all trouble;
And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 52:4 Or, And the deceitful tongue
  2. Psalm 52:5 Or, break thee down
  3. Psalm 52:7 Or, stronghold
  4. Psalm 53:2 Or, deal wisely
  5. Psalm 53:6 Or, returneth to
  6. Psalm 54:4 Or, with
  7. Psalm 54:5 Another reading is, The evil shall return.
  8. Psalm 54:5 Or, them that lie in wait for me