¶ To the chief Musician, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God [endureth] continually.
To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)}, Maschil {H4905}{H8688)}, A Psalm of David {H1732}, when Doeg {H1673} the Edomite {H130} came {H935}{H8800)} and told {H5046}{H8686)} Saul {H7586}, and said {H559}{H8799)} unto him, David {H1732} is come {H935}{H8804)} to the house {H1004} of Ahimelech {H288}. Why boastest {H1984}{H8691)} thou thyself in mischief {H7451}, O mighty {H1368} man? the goodness {H2617} of God {H410} endureth continually {H3117}.
For the leader. A maskil of David, when Do'eg from Edom came and told Sha'ul, "David has arrived at the house of Achimelekh": Why do you boast of your evil, you tyrant, when God's mercy is present every day?
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.
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Psalms 103:17
But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; -
Psalms 107:1
¶ O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. -
Psalms 94:4
[How long] shall they utter [and] speak hard things? [and] all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? -
Proverbs 6:14
Frowardness [is] in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. -
1 Samuel 21:7
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul [was] there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name [was] Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that [belonged] to Saul. -
Psalms 137:1
¶ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. -
Psalms 137:2
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Context of Psalms 52:1
Psalm 52:1 is the introductory verse to an instructional psalm (Maschil) attributed to David. The superscription provides crucial historical context, linking the psalm directly to a dark period in David's life: "when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech." This refers to the events chronicled in 1 Samuel chapters 21-22.
During his flight from King Saul, David sought refuge and provisions from Ahimelech, the high priest, in Nob. Unbeknownst to Ahimelech, David was a fugitive. Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, witnessed this encounter. Later, when Saul confronted the priests for aiding David, Doeg readily informed him, leading to the brutal massacre of 85 priests and their families by Doeg himself, at Saul's command (1 Samuel 22:9-19). This psalm, therefore, is David's response to Doeg's treachery and the devastating consequences of his malicious boasting.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Psalms 52:1 offers comfort and perspective for believers today facing malice or betrayal. It teaches us: