52
Psalm 52 – The Doom of Arrogance
For the leader. A maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul that David had gone to Abimelech’s house.
1 Why glory in mischief, you hero?
God’s kindness is all the day.
2 Engulfing ruin you plot,
your tongue like a razor sharpened,
you practiser of deceit.
3 Evil, not good, you love,
and falsehood, not words of truth.
Selah
4 But you love all words that devour,
and a tongue that is given to deceit.
5 But God, on his part, shall destroy you forever,
grasp you and pluck you out of your tent,
and root you out of the land of the living.
Selah
6 Smitten with awe at the sight,
the righteous shall laugh at you.
7 ‘Look’ (they will say) ‘at the hero
who did not make God his stronghold,
but trusted in his great wealth
and in the strength of his riches.’
8 But I am like a fresh olive-tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the kindness of God
for ever and evermore.
9 I will render you thanks for ever
for what you have done.
I will tell how good you are
in the presence of those who love you.