Psalms 52–9
Psalm 52:1-9
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Psa.52.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משכיל: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ps.32:1 (verbal): Also headed 'Maskil of David' (מַשְׂכִּיל לְדָוִד) — shares the same technical superscription/genre attribution as Ps 52:1.
- Ps.42:1 (structural): Begins with the label 'למנצח משכיל' (a Maskil/for the director) — illustrates the same literary form (Maskil) used in psalm headings.
- Ps.36:1 (thematic): Portrait of the wicked in the land (human depravity and the counsel of the wicked) — thematically parallels Ps 52's denunciation of a deceitful/evil man.
- Ps.53:1 (thematic): Like Ps 52, addresses human wickedness and folly; Ps 53 (and Ps 14) offers a close thematic counterpart in its depiction of corrupt people and their folly before God.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David.
- To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David.
Psa.52.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- בבוא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דואג: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האדמי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויגד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לשאול: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 22:9-10 (quotation): Doeg the Edomite explicitly reports that he saw David go to Nob to Ahimelech—direct narrative parallel and likely source for the Psalm's opening line.
- 1 Samuel 21:1-6 (structural): The account of David's visit to Ahimelech the priest at Nob (requesting food and a weapon) provides the immediate historical background for the Psalm's reference.
- 1 Samuel 22:18-19 (thematic): Describes the brutal consequences of Doeg's report—the massacre of the priests at Nob—echoing the Psalm's theme of betrayal and the wickedness of the informer.
- 1 Samuel 22:6-23 (structural): The wider episode (David's flight, Doeg's testimony, Saul's actions) frames the Psalm's context and explains the speaker's confrontation with treachery and violence.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul, saying to him, 'David has come to the house of Ahimelech.'
- When Doeg the Edomite came and told it to Saul, and said, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”
Psa.52.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- מה: PRON,int
- תתהלל: VERB,hitpael,impf,2,m,sg
- ברעה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הגבור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- חסד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- כל: DET
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Psalm 10:3 (thematic): Condemns the wicked who 'boast' about their desires and act proudly—parallel to the rebuke of one who 'boasts in evil' (the same motif of arrogant, sinful boasting).
- Psalm 36:5 (verbal): Uses the key term chesed/steadfast love ('Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens'), creating a contrast between the LORD’s enduring loyal love and the proud person who boasts in evil in Ps 52:3.
- Proverbs 27:2 (thematic): Commands 'let another praise you, and not your own mouth'—an ethical counterpoint to the self‑praise/boasting condemned in Ps 52:3.
- Psalm 49:6-7 (thematic): Speaks of those who 'boast' in their wealth and confidence in riches; parallels Ps 52:3’s critique of misplaced, arrogant boasting by the wicked.
Alternative generated candidates
- Why do you boast of evil, O mighty one? God’s steadfast love endures all day.
- Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? God's steadfast love endures all the day.
Psa.52.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- הוות: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- תחשב: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- לשונך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- כתער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלטש: VERB,piel,ptc,m,sg
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- רמיה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 140:3 (verbal): Imagery of a sharpened tongue like a serpent/razor — both texts portray the tongue as a weapon of deceit and poison.
- Psalm 64:3-4 (verbal): Speaks of enemies sharpening their tongues like swords and shooting bitter words — similar metaphor of a sharpened, injurious tongue.
- Psalm 120:3 (verbal): Direct address to a 'deceitful tongue' (שפת שקר), echoing the theme of a tongue given to deceit rather than truth.
- Romans 3:13 (quotation): Paul cites OT language about the tongue practicing deceit ('their tongues practice deceit'), directly paralleling the charge of making/doing deceit in Ps 52:4.
- James 3:5-8 (thematic): Discusses the small but destructive power of the tongue and its poisonous effects — thematically parallels the depiction of the tongue as a sharpened instrument of deceit.
Alternative generated candidates
- You devise destruction; your tongue is a sharpened razor—you practice deceit.
- Your tongue devises destruction—like a sharpened razor you fashion deceit.
Psa.52.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אהבת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- רע: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מטוב: PREP+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- שקר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- צדק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Isaiah 5:20 (thematic): Condemns those who call evil good and good evil — moral inversion like ‘loving evil more than good.’
- Jeremiah 5:31 (thematic): ‘The prophets prophesy lies… my people love to have it so’ — people preferring falsehood over truth, akin to loving lies rather than righteousness.
- Proverbs 12:22 (verbal): Contrasts lying lips with the LORD’s delight in faithfulness — parallels the condemnation of preferring falsehood to righteousness.
- Psalm 12:2 (verbal): Speaks of widespread lying and flattering speech among people, echoing the psalm’s charge that the wicked choose deceit over right speech.
Alternative generated candidates
- You love evil more than good; falsehood more than speaking justice. Selah.
- You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking righteousness. Selah.
Psa.52.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אהבת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- כל: DET
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- בלע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לשון: NOUN,f,sg,constr
- מרמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 5:9 (verbal): Accuses the wicked of having no truth in their mouth and inner destruction — similar charge against deceitful speech and destructive words in Ps 52:6.
- Psalm 10:7 (thematic): Describes a mouth full of cursing, deceit and oppression; parallels the image of a deceitful tongue that loves harmful words.
- Proverbs 12:22 (thematic): States that lying lips are an abomination to the LORD — thematically echoes Ps 52:6's denunciation of deceitful speech.
- Jeremiah 9:6 (allusion): Speaks of dwelling amid deceit and the pervasiveness of deceptive speech — parallels the portrait of one who loves words of deceit.
- Romans 3:13 (verbal): 'Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they have practiced deceit' — New Testament verbal parallel to the image of a deceitful, destructive tongue in Ps 52:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- You love every word that consumes—O deceitful tongue.
- You love every word that devours—you, tongue of deceit.
Psa.52.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- גם: ADV
- אל: NEG
- יתצך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יחתך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ויסחך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מאהל: PREP
- ושרשך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חיים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- סלה: MISC
Parallels
- Ps.69:28 (verbal): Prays that the wicked be blotted out of the 'book of the living'—parallels Ps 52:7's petition that the enemy be removed/rooted out from the land of the living.
- Prov.2:22 (verbal): Speaks of the wicked being 'cut off' and 'rooted out' of the earth—shares the same imagery of uprooting the wicked from the living place.
- Ps.9:5 (thematic): Declares that God destroys the wicked and blots out their name forever—a similar imprecatory theme asking for the removal and ruin of evildoers.
- Ps.109:8 (thematic): An imprecatory petition for the enemy's removal and end (e.g., 'may his days be few' / removal from office)—parallels the desire in Ps 52:7 that God 'tear him down' and snatch him from his dwelling.
Alternative generated candidates
- But God will cut you off forever; he will seize you, pluck you from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah.
- But God will break you down forever; he will snatch you away, he will take you from your tent and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah.
Psa.52.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- צדיקים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וייראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ועליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ישחקו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ps.37:12-13 (thematic): Both depict the fate of the wicked and the response of the righteous/divine: the wicked plot against the righteous, but God (and by implication the righteous) derides them—a reversal of fortunes leading to mockery or laughter at the wicked's downfall.
- Ps.2:4 (verbal): Uses the verb 'laugh' of one who scorns the plans of hostile rulers. Ps.52:8's laughter at the wicked echoes the motif of derision of vain plots found here (God laughing at the princes' counsel).
- Ps.58:10 (thematic): Speaks of the righteous rejoicing when they see the wicked's punishment. Like Ps.52:8, it portrays the righteous' reaction—joy or mockery—on witnessing the wicked's end.
- Prov.3:34 (thematic): States that God 'scorns the scorners' and gives favor to the lowly. This principle of reversal—mockers being mocked—parallels the righteous' derisive response to the wicked in Ps.52:8.
- Ps.73:18-19 (structural): Describes the ultimate downfall of the wicked when their true end is revealed; the psalmist's recognition leads to a change in attitude toward the prosperous wicked, comparable to Ps.52:8's emphasis on perceiving the wicked's fate and the resulting reaction.
Alternative generated candidates
- The righteous will see and be afraid; they will laugh at him.
- The righteous will see and be afraid; they will laugh at him.
Psa.52.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- הגבר: ADJ,m,sg,def
- לא: PART_NEG
- ישים: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מעוזו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ויבטח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ברב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשרו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- יעז: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בהותו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
Parallels
- Jeremiah 17:5-8 (thematic): Contrast between trusting in human resources/strength and trusting in the LORD; blessing for those who make God their refuge vs curse on those who trust in man.
- Psalm 49:6-7 (verbal): Explicit critique of trusting in wealth—those who trust in riches cannot redeem themselves—directly parallels the Psalm’s denunciation of confidence in abundance of riches.
- Psalm 20:7 (thematic): Contrast of reliance on worldly power (chariots/horses) with reliance on God, echoing the Psalm’s opposition to trusting in material strength.
- Proverbs 11:28 (thematic): Warning that those who trust in riches will perish, reflecting the same judgment on confidence in wealth rather than in God.
- Psalm 118:8 (thematic): Affirms it is better to trust in the LORD than in man, a succinct statement of the Psalm’s core claim against trusting in worldly means.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold the man who does not make God his refuge, but trusts in the abundance of his riches and boasts in his wickedness.
- Behold the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David.
When Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul, saying, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty one? The steadfast love of God endures all day.
Your tongue devises destruction; it is like a sharpened razor— you practice deceit.
You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking justice. Selah.
You love every word that devours; O deceitful tongue. But God will cut you off forever; he will seize you, tear you from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah.
The righteous will see and fear, and they will laugh at him.
Behold, the man who does not make God his refuge, but trusts in the abundance of his riches and takes pride in his wealth.