Text -- Psalms 52:4 (NET)

52:4 You love to use all the words that destroy, and the tongue that deceives.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 52:4

¹ tn Heb “you love all the words of swallowing.” Traditionally בַּלַּע (bala’) has been taken to mean “swallowing” in the sense of “devouring” or “destructive” (see BDB 118 s.v. בָּלַע). HALOT 135 s.v. III *בֶּלַע proposes a homonym here, meaning “confusion.” This would fit the immediate context nicely and provide a close parallel to the following line, which refers to deceptive words.