Psalms 52

1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid to giue instruction. When Doeg the Edomite came and shewed Saul, and saide to him, Dauid is come to the house of Abimelech. Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse, O man of power? the louing kindenesse of God indureth dayly.

For the leader. A maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul that David had gone to Abimelech’s house. Why glory in mischief, you hero? God’s kindness is all the day.

2 Thy tongue imagineth mischiefe, and is like a sharpe rasor, that cutteth deceitfully.

Engulfing ruin you plot, your tongue like a razor sharpened, you practiser of deceit.

3 Thou doest loue euill more then good, and lies more then to speake the trueth. (Selah)

Evil, not good, you love, and falsehood, not words of truth. (Selah)

4 Thou louest all wordes that may destroye, O deceitfull tongue!

But you love all words that devour, and a tongue that is given to deceit.

5 So shall God destroy thee for euer: he shall take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle, and roote thee out of ye land of the liuing. (Selah)

But God, on his part, shall destroy you forever, grasp you and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. (Selah)

6 The righteous also shall see it, and feare, and shall laugh at him, saying,

Smitten with awe at the sight, the righteous shall laugh at you.

7 Beholde the man that tooke not God for his strength, but trusted vnto the multitude of his riches, and put his strength in his malice.

“Look” (they will say) “at the hero who did not make God his stronghold, but trusted in his great wealth and in the strength of his riches.”

8 But I shall bee like a greene oliue tree in the house of God: for I trusted in the mercie of God for euer and euer.

But I am like a fresh olive-tree in the house of God. I trust in the kindness of God for ever and evermore.

9 I will alway praise thee, for that thou hast done this, and I will hope in thy Name, because it is good before thy Saints.

I will render you thanks for ever for what you have done. I will tell how good you are in the presence of those who love you.