Psalm 52-54
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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)
Psalm 53
Denunciation of Godlessness
To the leader: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt; they commit abominable acts;
there is no one who does good.(J)
2 God looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.(K)
3 They have all fallen away; they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.(L)
4 Have they no knowledge, those evildoers,
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon God?(M)
5 There they shall be in great terror,
in terror such as has not been.
For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly;[e]
they will be put to shame,[f] for God has rejected them.(N)
6 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.(O)
Psalm 54
Prayer for Vindication
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “David is in hiding among us.”
1 Save me, O God, by your name,
and vindicate me by your might.(P)
2 Hear my prayer, O God;
give ear to the words of my mouth.(Q)
3 For the insolent have risen against me;
the ruthless seek my life;
they do not set God before them. Selah(R)
4 But surely, God is my helper;
the Lord is the upholder of[g] my life.(S)
5 He will repay my enemies for their evil.
In your faithfulness, put an end to them.(T)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.