Psalms 52

Psalm 52#sn Psalm 52. The psalmist confidently confronts his enemy and affirms that God will destroy evildoers and vindicate the godly.

For the music director; a well-written song#tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7. by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: “David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.”#tn Heb “when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech.’”sn According to the superscription, David wrote this psalm during the period when Saul was seeking his life. On one occasion Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s head shepherd (1 Sam 21:7), informed Saul of David’s whereabouts (see 1 Sam 21-22).

1Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God’s loyal love protects me all day long!

2Your tongue carries out your destructive plans; it is as effective as a sharp razor, O deceiver.

3You love evil more than good, lies more than speaking the truth. (Selah)

4You love to use all the words that destroy, and the tongue that deceives.

5Yet God will make you a permanent heap of ruins. He will scoop you up and remove you from your home; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)

6When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe, and will mock the evildoer, saying:

7“Look, here is the man who would not make God his protector! He trusted in his great wealth and was confident about his plans to destroy others.”

8But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I continually trust in God’s loyal love.

9I will continually thank you when you execute judgment; I will rely on you, for your loyal followers know you are good.