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Psalms 52

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The Wicked Boaster Condemned 1–4

1
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually. ​
2
Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. ​
3
Thou lovest evil more than good, And lying rather than to speak righteousness. [Selah
4
Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

Certainty of God's Judgment 5–7

5
God will likewise 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 ​
6
The righteous also shall see it, and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, ​
7
Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness. ​

The Security of the Righteous 8–9

8
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. ​
9
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. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 52

Verse 1

the goodness of God endureth continually — The title ties the psalm to Doeg the Edomite, who told Saul of David's coming to Nob (1 Sam 22:9), and who later 'fell upon the priests' and slew eighty-five (1 Sam 22:18). 'Goodness' is chesed, covenant love, set against the 'mischief' (ra) of the 'mighty man' (gibbor) who boasts.

Verse 2

like a sharp razor — Havvah, 'mischiefs', is a word for ruin; the tongue 'deviseth' it, and latash, 'sharp', is to whet an edge, so the razor (ta'ar) is one just sharpened. 'Deceitfully' is remiyyah, treachery. Ps 57:4 gives another picture of such tongues: 'their tongue a sharp sword.'

Verse 5

root thee out of the land of the living — Four verbs follow one another: nathats, to tear down; chathah, to snatch up; nasach, to pluck away; sharash, to uproot. The 'dwelling place' is literally a tent (ohel). 'The land of the living' is the phrase of Ps 27:13, and Prov 2:22 says 'the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.'

Verse 6

The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him — 'Fear' is yare, awe, and 'laugh' is sachaq. Seeing the judgment and fearing is also the response in Ps 40:3, 'many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD', and Ps 37:34 promises the righteous 'when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.'

Verse 7

made not God his strength — The 'man' is geber, kin to the 'mighty man' (gibbor) of v.1. 'Strength' is ma'oz, a stronghold, as in Ps 43:2. He 'trusted' (batach) in his riches and 'strengthened himself in his wickedness', havvah, the same word as the 'mischiefs' of v.2. Jeremiah has the like: 'Cursed be the man that trusteth in man' (Jer 17:5).

Verse 8

a green olive tree in the house of God — Ra'anan is green, leafy. Ps 92:13 has a like picture: 'Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish.' He trusts (batach), the verb used of the rich man in v.7, but in God's chesed, 'for ever and ever'.

Verse 9

I will wait on thy name — 'Praise' is yadah, to give thanks. 'Wait' is qavah, to bind together, to look for with expectation, as in Lam 3:25, 'The LORD is good unto them that wait for him'. 'Saints' is chasid, from the family of chesed, the covenant love of v.1. 'Thou hast done it' looks back to the judgment of vv.5–7.