Psalms 52

The Boastful Tongue Uprooted and the Faithful Olive Tree Flourishing

The psalm moves from the exposure of boastful, deceitful speech, to God's promised judgment, to the righteous community's reverent interpretation, and finally to David's olive-tree confidence in God's enduring steadfast love.

World English Bible, Public Domain

1 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.

2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

3 You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth.

4 You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.

5 God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living.

6 The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying,

7 “Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.

9 I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your saints.

Key Terms

דָּוִד David H1732
דֹּאֵג Doeg H1673
אֱדֹמִי Edomi H130
הָלַל halal H1984
רָעָה ra'ah H7451
גִּבּוֹר gibbor H1368
חֶסֶד chesed H2617
אֵל El H410
כָּל־הַיּוֹם kol-hayom H3605/H3117
לָשׁוֹן lashon H3956

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details