Psalm 52: Like a Green Olive Tree in God's House
A rebuke of a deceitful tongue contrasted with quiet trust in God's mercy.
Psalm 52 confronts a 'mighty man' who boasts in mischief and loves lying words more than righteousness, a sharp contrast to David's own confession in Psalms 51. The tongue is compared to 'a sharp razor, working deceitfully.'
To the chief Musician, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God [endureth] continually.
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
\\52:1\\To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
\\52:2\\Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
\\52:3\\Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
\\52:4\\Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
\\52:5\\God 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.
\\52:6\\The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:
\\52:7\\Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
\\52:8\\But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
\\52:9\\I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.