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# Psalm 52
## The Deceitful Tongue
1 For the leader. A *maskil* of David, ^psalm-52-1
2 when Doeg the Edomite entered and reported to Saul, saying to him: “David has entered the house of Ahimelech.” ^psalm-52-2
### I
3 Why do you glory in what is evil, you who are mighty by the mercy of God? ^psalm-52-3
All day long
4 you are thinking up intrigues; ^psalm-52-4
your tongue is like a sharpened razor,
you worker of deceit.
5 You love evil more than good, ^psalm-52-5
lying rather than saying what is right.
*Selah*
6 You love all the words that create confusion, ^psalm-52-6
you deceitful tongue.
### II
7 God too will strike you down forever, ^psalm-52-7
he will lay hold of you and pluck you from your tent,
uproot you from the land of the living.
*Selah*
8 The righteous will see and they will fear; ^psalm-52-8
but they will laugh at him:
9 “Behold the man! He did not take God as his refuge, ^psalm-52-9
but he trusted in the abundance of his wealth,
and grew powerful through his wickedness.”
### III
10 But I, like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God, ^psalm-52-10
I trust in God’s mercy forever and ever.
11 I will thank you forever ^psalm-52-11
for what you have done.
I will put my hope in your name—for it is good,
—in the presence of those devoted to you.
\* (Psalm 52) A condemnation of the powerful and arrogant ([Ps 52:3] – [6]), who bring down upon themselves God’s judgment ([Ps 52:7]). The just, those who trust in God alone, are gladdened and strengthened by the downfall of their traditional enemies ([Ps 52:8] – [9]).
\* (52:10) Like an olive tree: the righteous will flourish in the house of God like a well-watered olive tree, cf. [Ps 92:14]; [128:3].
a. (52:2) [1 Sm 21:8]; [22:6ff].
b. (52:4) ([[psalm-12|Ps 12]]:3]; [59:8]; [120:2] – [3]; [Sir 51:3].
c. (52:5) [Jer 4:22]; [Jn 3:19] – [20].
d. (52:6) [Jer 9:4].
e. (52:7) ([[psalm-27|Ps 27]]:13]; [28:5]; [56:14]; [Jb 18:14]; [Prv 2:22]; [Is 38:11].
f. (52:8) [Ps 44:14]; [64:9].
g. (52:9) [Jb 31:24]; [Prv 11:28].
h. (52:10) ([[psalm-01|Ps 1]]:3]; [92:12] – [14]; [Jer 11:16]; [17:8].
i. (52:11) ([[psalm-22|Ps 22]]:23]; [26:12]; [35:18]; [149:1].
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_New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
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