Christian Standard Bible
Psalms 52:2
2Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery.
Psalms 52:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- New International Version (NIV)You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Context of Psalms 52:2
1Why boast about evil, you hero! God’s faithful love is constant. Like a sharpened razor, your tongue devises destruction, working treachery. 3You love evil instead of good, lying instead of speaking truthfully.Selah 4You love any words that destroy, you treacherous tongue!
Read all of Psalms 52Psalms 52:2 word by word
הַ֭וּוֹת תַּחְשֹׁ֣ב לְשׁוֹנֶ֑ךָ כְּתַ֥עַר מְ֝לֻטָּ֗שׁ עֹשֵׂ֥ה רְמִיָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 52:2
- Psalms 50:19You unleash your mouth for evil and harness your tongue for deceit.
- Psalms 64:2Hide me from the scheming of wicked people, from the mob of evildoers,
- Psalms 140:2who plan evil in their hearts. They stir up wars all day long.
- Proverbs 6:16The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him:
- Proverbs 30:14There is a generation whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, devouring the oppressed from the land and the needy from among mankind.
- Jeremiah 9:3They bent their tongues like their bows; lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land, for they proceed from one evil to another, and they do not take me into account. This is the Lord’s declaration.
- Jeremiah 18:18Then certain ones said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah, for instruction will never be lost from the priest, or counsel from the wise, or a word from the prophet. Come, let’s denounce him and pay no attention to all his words.”
- Matthew 26:59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death,
- Acts 6:11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
- Acts 24:1Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.
- Revelation 12:10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down.
- Psalms 57:4I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among devouring lions — people whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
- Psalms 59:7Look, they spew from their mouths — sharp words from their lips. “For who,” they say, “will hear?”
- Proverbs 12:18There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
- Psalms 109:2For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.
Commentaries on Psalms 52:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Deviseth mischiefs - Lies and slanders proceeding from the tongue argue the desperate wickedness of the heart. Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully - Which instead of taking off the beard, cuts and wounds the flesh; or as the operator who, when pretending to trim the beard, cuts the throat.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs - The word rendered “mischiefs” means (a) desire, cupidity: Proverbs 10:3; then (b) fall, ruin, destruction, wickedness: Psalm 5:9; Psalm 38:12. The meaning here is, that he made use of his tongue to ruin others. Compare Psalm 50:19. The particular thing referred to here is the fact that Doeg sought the ruin of others by giving “information” in regard to them. He “informed” Saul of what Ahimelech had done; he informed him…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4Liars deceive themselves by thinking they can be heroes with their words. They see themselves as innocent, even though they love evil and cause harm. Those who speak curses, sarcasm, bitterness, arrogant boasting, and lies (Psalms 31:18; 34:13; 59:7, 12; 120:2–3; 140:3, 9) create chaos, isolation, and destruction (James 3:5). Their sharp words cut like swords and daggers (Psalms 55:21; 57:4; 64:3), the fangs of a snake (140:3), or a razor.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. tongue--for self. mischiefs--evil to others (Psa 5:9; 38:12). working deceitfully--(Psa 10:7), as a keen, smoothly moving razor, cutting quietly, but deeply.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 52:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 52
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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