Psalms 52:3-4

52:3 You love evil more than good,

lies more than speaking the truth. ¹  (Selah)

52:4 You love to use all the words that destroy, ² 

and the tongue that deceives.

Psalms 119:69

119:69 Arrogant people smear my reputation with lies, ³ 

but I observe your precepts with all my heart.

[52:3]  ¹ tn Or “deceit more than speaking what is right.”

[52:4]  ² 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.

[119:69]  ³ tn Heb “smear over me a lie.”