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.'
The title of the two and fiftithe salm. To the ouercomer bi the quere, the lernyng of Dauid. The vnwise man seide in his herte; God is not.
Thei ben `corrupt, and maad abhomynable in her wickidnessis; noon is that doith good.
God bihelde fro heuene on the sones of men; that he se, if `ony is vndurstondynge, ether sekynge God.
Alle boweden awei, thei ben maad vnprofitable togidre; noon is that doith good, ther is not til to oon.
Whether alle men, that worchen wickidnesse, schulen not wite; whiche deuouren my puple as the mete of breed?
Thei clepiden not God; there thei trembliden for drede, where no drede was. For God hath scaterid the boones of hem, that plesen men; thei ben schent, for God hath forsake hem.
Who schal yyue fro Syon helthe to Israel? whanne the Lord hath turned the caitifte of his puple, Jacob schal `ful out make ioie, and Israel schal be glad.