Psalms 52

1 You people [think that you] are strong and brag about the sins that you have committed, while you plan to harm godly people.

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 All during the day you plan to get rid of [others]; what you say [MTY] [injures others] like a sharp razor [SIM], and you are [always] deceiving [others].

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

3 You like [doing what is] evil more than you like doing what is good, and you like telling lies more than you like telling the truth.

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

4 You who say things [MTY] to deceive people, you like to say (things that hurt people/cruel things)!

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

5 But God will get rid of you forever; he will grab you and drag you from your home and take you away from this world where people are alive.

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 When righteous [people] see that, they will be awestruck, and they will laugh at [what happened to] you, and say,

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

7 “Look [what happened to] the man who would not ask God to protect him; he trusted that his great wealth [would save him]; he trusted in the money that he got by wickedly taking it from others!”

‘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 am [secure/safe because I worship] in God’s temple; I am like a [strong] green olive tree. I trust in God, who faithfully loves us forever.

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 God, I will always thank you for the things that you have done. As I stand before godly [people], I will proclaim that you are good (OR, the many good [MTY] [things you have done for us]).

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.