THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.

Psalm 52

1David reproving the spiteful malice of Doeg, prophesieth his destruction. 6The righteous shall rejoice at it. 8David in confidence of God's mercy giveth him thanks.


0To the 1chief Musician, 2Maschil, A Psalm of David, whena Doeg the 3Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of 4Ahimelech.

1 See the first annotation at Psalm 4 in the title.

2 See the annotation at Psalm 32 in the title.

a 1 Sam. 22:9.

3 One of Esau’s posterity (also called Edom, Gen. 25:30), or having at leastwise lived so long among them, that he (as some conceive) got his name thence. Hebr. Adomite, as 1 Sam. 22:9. Also Deut. 23:7; 1 Kings 11:17, etc.

4 The priest, to conspire with him against thee, as Doeg falsely construed it. See 1 Sam. 22:9, 13.

1WHY boastest thou thyself in 5mischief, O 6mighty man? the 7goodness of God endureth continually.

5 That thou hast afflicted on me and on God’s priests at Nob. See 1 Sam. 22:18, 19.

6 For he was in great repute with Saul, and one of his highest herdsmen and officers, 1 Sam. 21:7; 22:9. This made him proud and insolent, verse 7.

7 Over all His (people), and myself also, so that your boasting is in vain of having already or utterly subdued me.

2Thy tongue 8deviseth 9mischiefs; like a sharp razor, 10working deceitfully.

8 That is, do not express than your premeditated and devised mischief.

9 Hebr. naughtiness or miseries, that is, only sorrow and destruction of the godly.

10 Which, instead of cutting or shaving the hair, injures or cuts the throat of someone; or it may be applied to Doeg himself, thus: O thou worker of deceit, as before thou mighty one.

3Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. 11Selah.

11 See Psalm 3 on verse 2.

4Thou lovest all 12devouring words, O thou 13deceitful tongue.

12 Tending to swallow and to gulp down.

13 That is, a tongue of deceit.

5God shall 14likewise 15destroy thee for ever, he shall 16take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy 17dwelling place, and root thee out of the 18land of the living. Selah.

14 Upon such sins, such punishments.

15 As men do raze and break down buildings (houses, altars, etc.).

16 Or, snatch away, as one does hastily grab a coal of fire with tongs, Isa. 30:14.

17 That is, out of thine tent.

18 That is, out of this world, out of this life. See Psalm 27 on verse 13.

6The righteous also shall see, and 19fear, and shall 20laugh at him:

19 As being amazed to see this righteous judgment of God, and thereby strengthened to stand in awe and fear of Him.

20 Holily rejoicing to see God’s righteous punishment on such besotted and bitter enemy of God and of all the godly, and deriding the vain confidence of Doeg.

7Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the 21abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his 22wickedness.

21 Or, greatness.

22 Hebr. through his damage, mischief or misery, burden, sorrow, namely, such as he did trouble and vex the godly, as verse 2.

8But I am like a 23green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

23 Compare Psalm 92:12, 13; Jer. 11:16.

9I will praise thee for ever, becauseb thou hast 24done it: and I will wait on thy 25name; for 26it is good 27before thy 28saints.

bPsalm 22:31.

24 That is, because Thou shalt have done it, namely, punished this boasting enemy and preserved me to enjoy the promised kingdom, which David, by the prophetical spirit, asserts with as much confidence as if it had been brought to pass already.

25 That is, Thyself, the truth and fulfilling of Thy promises, whereby Thou shewest indeed to be the same as Thou describest Thyself in Thy Word and art called by Thy Name. Compare Psalm 54:1, 6; 56:4, 10.

26 Namely, Thy Name, which is good, that is, Thou art kind and consolatory; or, it is good, namely, to praise Thee, and to wait upon Thy Name. Compare Psalm 92:1.

27 That is here, before the eyes, in presence of or over against.

28 See Psalm 4 on verse 3.