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Psalms 52
A short, pointed takedown of a powerful man whose weapon is his mouth. His tongue "plots destruction, like a sharp razor" (v.2); he loves lying over truth and devouring words over speech. Watch the reversal: the boaster will be uprooted from "the land of the living," and the righteous will see it, fear, and laugh (v.5-6) — a rare moment of the godly laughing at a fallen tyrant.
- 1
Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.
- 2
Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- 3
You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.
- 4
You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.
- 5
God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
- 6
The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying,
- 7
“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
- 8
But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
- 9
I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your saints.
- 1
Por que você se gloria da maldade, homem poderoso? A benignidade de Deus dura continuamente.
- 2
Sua língua trama destruição, como uma navalha afiada, agindo com engano.
- 3
Você ama o mal mais do que o bem, e a mentira em vez de falar a verdade. Selá.
- 4
Você ama todas as palavras devoradoras, ó língua enganadora.
- 5
Deus também o destruirá para sempre. Ele o arrebatará e o arrancará da sua tenda, e o extirpará da terra dos viventes. Selá.
- 6
Os justos também verão isso, e temerão, e rirão dele, dizendo:
- 7
“Eis o homem que não fez de Deus a sua força, mas confiou na abundância de suas riquezas, e se fortaleceu na sua maldade.”
- 8
Mas, quanto a mim, sou como uma oliveira verde na casa de Deus. Confio na benignidade de Deus para todo o sempre.
- 9
Eu te darei graças para sempre, porque tu o fizeste. Esperarei no teu nome, pois é bom, na presença dos teus santos.
Razor tongue versus olive tree
The psalm sets two images against each other. The mighty man trusts "in the abundance of his riches" and is plucked out like a tent torn down (v.5,7). The speaker, by contrast, is "like a green olive tree in God's house" (v.8) — rooted, alive, fruitful.
The closing trust is not in security but in the divine name itself: "I will hope in your name, for it is good" (v.9).
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