Psalms 52

1 To the chief music-maker. Maschil. Of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul saying, David has come to the house of Ahimelech. Why do you take pride in wrongdoing, lifting yourself up against the upright man all the day?

For the music director. A psalm (maskil) of David, concerning the time when Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the home of Ahimelech.” You great man, why do you boast about the evil things you've done? God's trustworthy love lasts all day long.

2 Purposing destruction, using deceit; your tongue is like a sharp blade.

You plot to make people suffer; your words cut like a sharp razor, you liar!

3 You have more love for evil than for good, for deceit than for works of righteousness. (Selah)

You love evil more than good, and telling lies more than speaking the truth. (Selah)

4 Destruction is in all your words, O false tongue.

You love slanderous words that destroy others, you liar!

5 But God will put an end to you for ever; driving you out from your tent, uprooting you from the land of the living. (Selah)

But God will strike you down so hard you'll never get up. He will grab hold of you and drag you from your tent. He will tear you out of the land of the living. (Selah)

6 The upright will see it with fear, and will say, laughing at you:

Those who do right will see all this. They will be astonished and laugh, saying,

7 See, this is the man who did not make God his strength, but had faith in his goods and his property, and made himself strong in his wealth.

“See what happens to those who don't go to God for help but instead rely on their great wealth and strength—which only brings their destruction!”

8 But I am like a branching olive-tree in the house of God; I have put my faith in his mercy for ever and ever.

But I'm like an olive tree growing strongly in God's house. I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.

9 I will give you praise without end for what you have done; I will give honour to your name before your saints, for it is good.

I will praise you forever, God, for all you have done. In the presence of your trustworthy people, I will place my hope in the kind of person you are, for you are good.