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Psalms 52
1Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually.
2Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.
4You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.
5God 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. Selah.
6The 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."
8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God's house. I trust in God's loving kindness forever and ever.
9I 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. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Mahalath." A contemplation by David.
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Blessing: Spiritual, from God Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.
Boasting of Evil Psalm 52:1
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Boasting: Spiritual Psalm 52:1
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Church: House of God Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.
Compared To Saints: Green Olive Trees Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.
Confidence: False Psalm 52:7
“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
David: King of Israel: At This Time Probably Writes Psalm 52:1
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
David: King of Israel: Probably Writes Psalms Eleven at This Period of his Life Psalm 52:1
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Deceit: Doeg Psalm 52:1, 2
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. / Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
Deception: Doeg Psalm 52:2
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
Doeg: An Edomite, Present when Ahimelech Helped David Psalm 52:1
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Faith: Exemplified Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.
Falsehood: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 52:2–5
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. / You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah / You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.
Fear of God: Reverence Psalm 52:6
The righteous will see and fear; they will mock the evildoer, saying,
God: Goodness of Psalm 52:1, 9
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. / I will praise You forever, because You have done it. I will wait on Your name—for it is good—in the presence of Your saints.
Godlessness: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 52:7
“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
Happiness of the Wicked: Their Wealth Psalm 52:7
“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 52:4
You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.
Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 52:1, 7
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. / “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
Lying: The Wicked: Love Psalm 52:3
You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah
Music: Maschil: This Musical Sign Occurs in the Titles of Psalm 52:1
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Praise: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 52:9
I will praise You forever, because You have done it. I will wait on Your name—for it is good—in the presence of Your saints.
Pride: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 52:7
“Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
Psalms: Didactic Psalm 52:1
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Psalms 52:1-5 Verses 1-5
Those that glory in sin, glory in their shame. The patience and forbearance of God are abused by sinners, to the hardening of their hearts in their wicked ways. But the enemies in vain boast in their mischief, while we have God's mercy to trust in. It will not save us from the guilt of lying, to be able to say, there was some truth in what we said, if we make it appear otherwise than it was. The more there is of craft and contrivance in any wickedness, the more there is of Satan in it. When good men die, they are transplanted from the land of the living on earth, to heaven, the garden of the Lord, where they shall take root for ever; but when wicked men die, they are rooted out, to perish for ever. The believer sees that God will destroy those who make not him their strength.
Psalms 52:6-9 Verses 6-9
Those wretchedly deceive themselves, who think to support themselves in power and wealth without God. The wicked man trusted in the abundance of his riches; he thought his wickedness would help him to keep his wealth. Right or wrong, he would get what he could, and keep what he had, and ruin any one that stood in his way; this he thought would strengthen him; but see what it comes to! Those who by faith and love dwell in the house of God, shall be like green olive-trees there. And that we may be as green olive-trees, we must live a life of faith and holy confidence in God and his grace. It adds much to the beauty of our profession, and to fruitfulness in every grace, to be much in praising God; and we never can want matter for praise. His name alone can be our refuge and strong tower. It is very good for us to wait on that saving name; there is nothing better to calm and quiet our spirits, when disturbed, and to keep us in the way of duty, when tempted to use any crooked courses for our relief, than to hope, and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. None ever followed his guidance but it ended well.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Psalms 52:1 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
mighty man--literally, "hero." Doeg may be thus addressed, ironically, in respect of his might in slander.
Psalms 52:1-9 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
Ps 52:1 gives the theme; the boast of the wicked over the righteous is vain, for God constantly cares for His people. This is expanded by describing the malice and deceit, and then the ruin, of the wicked, and the happy state of the pious.
Psalms 52:2 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
tongue--for self. mischiefs--evil to others (Ps 5:9; 38:12). working deceitfully--(Ps 10:7), as a keen, smoothly moving razor, cutting quietly, but deeply.
Psalms 52:4 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
all-devouring--literally, "swallowing," which utterly destroy (compare Ps 21:9; 35:25).
Psalms 52:5 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
likewise--or, "so," "also," as you have done to others God will do to you (Ps 18:27). The following terms describe the most entire ruin.
Psalms 52:6 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
shall ... fear--regard with religious awe. laugh at him--for his folly;
Psalms 52:7 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
for trusting in riches and being strong in "wickedness." wickedness--literally, "mischief" (Ps 52:2), instead of trusting in God. the man--literally, "the mighty man," or "hero" (Ps 52:1).
Psalms 52:8 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
The figure used is common (Ps 1:3; Jer 11:16). green--fresh. house, &c.--in communion with God (compare Ps 27:4, 5). for ever and ever--qualifies "mercy."
Psalms 52:9 Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title.
hast done--that is, what the context supplies, "preserved me" (compare Ps 22:31). wait ... name--hope in Thy perfections, manifested for my good (Ps 5:11; 20:1). for it is good--that is, Thy name, and the whole method or result of its manifestation (Ps 54:6; 69:16). PSALM 53