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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.

Prayer for the destruction of the treacherous.

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David.

55 Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And hide not thyself from my supplication.
Attend unto me, and answer me:
I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression of the wicked;
For they cast iniquity upon me,
And in anger they persecute me.
My heart is sore pained within me:
And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me,
And horror hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove!
Then would I fly away, and be at rest.
Lo, then would I wander far off,
I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah
I would [i]haste me to a shelter
From the stormy wind and tempest.
[j]Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongue;
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof:
Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof:
[k]Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me;
Then I could have borne it:
Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me;
Then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal,
My companion, and my familiar friend.
14 We took sweet counsel together;
We walked in the house of God with the throng.
15 [l]Let death come suddenly upon them,
Let them go down alive into Sheol;
For wickedness is in their dwelling, in [m]the midst of them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God;
And Jehovah will save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan;
And he will hear my voice.
18 He hath redeemed my soul in peace [n]from the battle that was against me;
For they were many that strove with me.
19 God will hear, and [o]answer them,
Even he that abideth of old, Selah
The men who have no changes,
And who fear not God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him:
He hath profaned his covenant.
21 His mouth was smooth as butter,
But his heart was war:
His words were softer than oil,
Yet were they drawn swords.
22 Cast [p]thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee:
He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction:
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days;
But I will trust in thee.

Supplication for deliverance, and grateful trust in God.

For the Chief Musician; set to [q]Jonath elem rehokim. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath.

56 Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up:
All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.
[r]Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long;
For they are many that fight proudly against me.
What time I am afraid,
I will put my trust in thee.
In God (I will praise his word),
In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid;
What can flesh do unto me?
All the day long they wrest my words:
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves,
They mark my steps,
[s]Even as they have waited for my soul.
[t]Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God.
Thou numberest my wanderings:
Put thou my tears into thy bottle;
Are they not in thy [u]book?
Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call:
This I know, [v]that God is for me.
10 In God (I will praise his word),
In Jehovah (I will praise his word),
11 In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid;
What can man do unto me?
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God:
I will render thank-offerings unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death:
Hast thou not delivered my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of [w]the living?

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
  9. Psalm 55:8 Or, hasten my escape
  10. Psalm 55:9 Hebrew Swallow up.
  11. Psalm 55:11 Or, Fraud
  12. Psalm 55:15 Or, as otherwise read, Desolations be upon them!
  13. Psalm 55:15 Or, their inward part
  14. Psalm 55:18 Or, so that none came nigh me
  15. Psalm 55:19 Or, afflict
  16. Psalm 55:22 Or, what he hath given thee
  17. Psalm 56:1 That is, The silent dove of them that are afar off. Or, as otherwise read, The dove of the distant terebinths.
  18. Psalm 56:2 Or, They that lie in wait for me
  19. Psalm 56:6 Or, Inasmuch as
  20. Psalm 56:7 Or, They think to escape
  21. Psalm 56:8 Or, record
  22. Psalm 56:9 Or, for
  23. Psalm 56:13 Or, life

Psalm 52[a]

For the director of music. A maskil[b] of David. When Doeg the Edomite(A) had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”

Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
    Why do you boast(B) all day long,(C)
    you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
You who practice deceit,(D)
    your tongue plots destruction;(E)
    it is like a sharpened razor.(F)
You love evil(G) rather than good,
    falsehood(H) rather than speaking the truth.[c]
You love every harmful word,
    you deceitful tongue!(I)

Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
    He will snatch you up and pluck(J) you from your tent;
    he will uproot(K) you from the land of the living.(L)
The righteous will see and fear;
    they will laugh(M) at you, saying,
“Here now is the man
    who did not make God his stronghold(N)
but trusted in his great wealth(O)
    and grew strong by destroying others!”

But I am like an olive tree(P)
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust(Q) in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.
For what you have done I will always praise you(R)
    in the presence of your faithful people.(S)
And I will hope in your name,(T)
    for your name is good.(U)

Psalm 53[d](V)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.[e] A maskil[f] of David.

The fool(W) says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(X)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

God looks down from heaven(Y)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(Z)
    any who seek God.(AA)
Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
    there is no one who does good,
    not even one.(AB)

Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
    they never call on God.
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    where there was nothing to dread.(AC)
God scattered the bones(AD) of those who attacked you;(AE)
    you put them to shame,(AF) for God despised them.(AG)

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 54[g]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[h] of David. When the Ziphites(AH) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

Save me(AI), O God, by your name;(AJ)
    vindicate me by your might.(AK)
Hear my prayer, O God;(AL)
    listen to the words of my mouth.

Arrogant foes are attacking me;(AM)
    ruthless people(AN) are trying to kill me(AO)
    people without regard for God.[i](AP)

Surely God is my help;(AQ)
    the Lord is the one who sustains me.(AR)

Let evil recoil(AS) on those who slander me;
    in your faithfulness(AT) destroy them.

I will sacrifice a freewill offering(AU) to you;
    I will praise(AV) your name, Lord, for it is good.(AW)
You have delivered me(AX) from all my troubles,
    and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(AY)

Psalm 55[j]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[k] of David.

Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;(AZ)
    hear me and answer me.(BA)
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught(BB)
    because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me(BC)
    and assail(BD) me in their anger.(BE)

My heart is in anguish(BF) within me;
    the terrors(BG) of death have fallen on me.
Fear and trembling(BH) have beset me;
    horror(BI) has overwhelmed me.
I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest.
I would flee far away
    and stay in the desert;[l](BJ)
I would hurry to my place of shelter,(BK)
    far from the tempest and storm.(BL)

Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,(BM)
    for I see violence and strife(BN) in the city.(BO)
10 Day and night they prowl(BP) about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces(BQ) are at work in the city;
    threats and lies(BR) never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,
    I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
    I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,(BS)
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship(BT)
    at the house of God,(BU)
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;(BV)
    let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,(BW)
    for evil finds lodging among them.

16 As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening,(BX) morning(BY) and noon(BZ)
    I cry out in distress,
    and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
    from the battle waged against me,
    even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,(CA)
    who does not change—
he will hear(CB) them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.(CC)

20 My companion attacks his friends;(CD)
    he violates his covenant.(CE)
21 His talk is smooth as butter,(CF)
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,(CG)
    yet they are drawn swords.(CH)

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;(CI)
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.(CJ)
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit(CK) of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful(CL)
    will not live out half their days.(CM)

But as for me, I trust in you.(CN)

Psalm 56[m]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[n] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Be merciful to me,(CO) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(CP)
    all day long they press their attack.(CQ)
My adversaries pursue me all day long;(CR)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(CS)

When I am afraid,(CT) I put my trust in you.(CU)
    In God, whose word I praise—(CV)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(CW)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(CX)

All day long they twist my words;(CY)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
They conspire,(CZ) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(DA)
    hoping to take my life.(DB)
Because of their wickedness do not[o] let them escape;(DC)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(DD)

Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[p](DE)
    are they not in your record?(DF)
Then my enemies will turn back(DG)
    when I call for help.(DH)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(DI)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(DJ) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(DK)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(DL)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 52:1 In Hebrew texts 52:1-9 is numbered 52:3-11.
  2. Psalm 52:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 52:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 5.
  4. Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
  5. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  6. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  7. Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
  8. Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  9. Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  10. Psalm 55:1 In Hebrew texts 55:1-23 is numbered 55:2-24.
  11. Psalm 55:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  12. Psalm 55:7 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and in the middle of verse 19.
  13. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  14. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  15. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  16. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin