Psalms 52:1

Psalm 52 ¹ 

For the music director; a well-written song ²  by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: “David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.” ³ 

52:1 Why do you boast about your evil plans, ⁴  O powerful man?

God’s loyal love protects me all day long! ⁵ 

Psalms 57:10

57:10 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, ⁶ 

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Psalms 103:11

103:11 For as the skies are high above the earth,

so his loyal love towers ⁷  over his faithful followers. ⁸ 

Psalms 108:4

108:4 For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, ⁹ 

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Isaiah 55:7-9

55:7 The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle ¹⁰ 

and sinful people their plans. ¹¹ 

They should return ¹²  to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, ¹³ 

and to their God, for he will freely forgive them. ¹⁴ 

55:8 “Indeed, ¹⁵  my plans ¹⁶  are not like ¹⁷  your plans,

and my deeds ¹⁸  are not like ¹⁹  your deeds,

55:9 for just as the sky ²⁰  is higher than the earth,

so my deeds ²¹  are superior to ²²  your deeds

and my plans ²³  superior to your plans.

[52:1]  ¹ sn Psalm 52. The psalmist confidently confronts his enemy and affirms that God will destroy evildoers and vindicate the godly.

[52:1]  ² tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7.

[52:1]  ³ tn Heb “when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech.’”

[52:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “Why do you boast in evil?”

[52:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “the loyal love of God [is] all the day.” In this context, where the psalmist is threatened by his enemy, the point seems to be that the psalmist is protected by God’s loyal love at all times.

[57:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “for great upon the sky [or “heavens”] [is] your loyal love.”

[103:11]  ⁷ tn For this sense of the verb גָבַר (gavar), see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 17, 19.

[103:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “those who fear him.”

[108:4]  ⁹ tn Heb “for great upon the sky [or “heavens”] [is] your loyal love.”

[55:7]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Let the wicked one abandon his way.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and the man of evil his thoughts.” The singular is collective.

[55:7]  ¹² tn Heb “let him return.” The singular is collective, meaning “let them.”

[55:7]  ¹³ tn The imperfect with vav (ו) conjunctive after the jussive indicates purpose/result.

[55:7]  ¹⁴ sn The appeal and promise of vv. 6-7 echoes the language of Deut 4:25-31; 30:1-10; and 1 Kgs 8:46-53, all of which anticipate the exile and speak of the prerequisites for restoration.

[55:8]  ¹⁵ tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).

[55:8]  ¹⁶ tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).

[55:8]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.

[55:8]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).

[55:8]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “are not.” “Like” is interpretive, but v. 9 indicates that a comparison is in view.

[55:9]  ²⁰ tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.

[55:9]  ²¹ tn Heb “ways” (so many English versions).

[55:9]  ²² tn Heb “are higher than.”

[55:9]  ²³ tn Or “thoughts” (so many English versions).