Psalm 52-54
New King James Version
The End of the Wicked and the Peace of the Godly
To the Chief Musician. A [a]Contemplation of David (A)when Doeg the Edomite went and (B)told Saul, and said to him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”
52 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
2 Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
4 You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.
5 God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
7 “Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his [b]wickedness.”
8 But I am (C)like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
9 I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it [c]is good.
Folly of the Godless, and the Restoration of Israel(D)
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath.” A [d]Contemplation of David.
53 The (E)fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
(F)There is none who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who (G)seek God.
3 Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity (H)no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon God?
5 (I)There they are in great fear
Where no fear was,
For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;
You have put them to shame,
Because God has despised them.
6 (J)Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God brings back [e]the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
Answered Prayer for Deliverance from Adversaries
To the Chief Musician. With [f]stringed instruments. A [g]Contemplation of David (K)when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding with us?”
54 Save me, O God, by Your name,
And vindicate me by Your strength.
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
Give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers have risen up against me,
And oppressors have sought after my life;
They have not set God before them. Selah
4 Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is with those who [h]uphold my life.
5 He will repay my enemies for their evil.
[i]Cut them off in Your [j]truth.
6 I will freely sacrifice to You;
I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For He has delivered me out of all trouble;
(L)And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.
Footnotes
- Psalm 52:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 52:7 Lit. desire, in evil sense
- Psalm 52:9 Or has a good reputation
- Psalm 53:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 53:6 Or His captive people
- Psalm 54:1 Heb. neginoth
- Psalm 54:1 Heb. Maschil
- Psalm 54:4 sustain my soul
- Psalm 54:5 Destroy them
- Psalm 54:5 Or faithfulness
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.