Psalm 52-54
American Standard Version
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.
2 Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 Thou lovest evil more than good,
And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah
4 Thou lovest all devouring words,
[a]O thou deceitful tongue.
5 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
6 The righteous also shall see it, and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
2 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.
3 Every one of them is gone back; they are together become filthy;
There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And call not upon God?
5 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.
6 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.
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers are risen up against me,
And violent men have sought after my soul:
They have not set God before them. Selah
4 Behold, God is my helper:
The Lord is [f]of them that uphold my soul.
5 [g]He will requite the evil unto [h]mine enemies:
Destroy thou them in thy truth.
6 With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto thee:
I will give thanks unto thy name, O Jehovah, for it is good.
7 For he hath delivered me out of all trouble;
And mine eye hath seen my desire upon mine enemies.
Footnotes
- Psalm 52:4 Or, And the deceitful tongue
- Psalm 52:5 Or, break thee down
- Psalm 52:7 Or, stronghold
- Psalm 53:2 Or, deal wisely
- Psalm 53:6 Or, returneth to
- Psalm 54:4 Or, with
- Psalm 54:5 Another reading is, The evil shall return.
- Psalm 54:5 Or, them that lie in wait for me
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