Psalms

Chapter 52

The Righteous Laughs at the Wicked Deceiver

The psalmist rebukes a mighty man who boasts in mischief and evil, whose tongue devises deception and loves devouring words. God will destroy him forever, plucking him from his dwelling place. The righteous shall see this judgment and fear, laughing at the man who trusted in riches and wickedness rather than making God his strength. The psalmist, by contrast, trusts in God's mercy as a green olive tree in God's house, praising God forever.

God's judgment on the wickedThe power of deceitful speechTrust in God versus worldly strengthThe righteous shall witness judgment

¹Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

²Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

³Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

⁴Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

⁵God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

⁶The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:

⁷Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

⁸But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

⁹I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

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