Psalms 52:7-9

52:7 “Look, here is the man who would not make ¹  God his protector!

He trusted in his great wealth

and was confident about his plans to destroy others.” ² 

52:8 But I ³  am like a flourishing ⁴  olive tree in the house of God;

I continually ⁵  trust in God’s loyal love.

52:9 I will continually ⁶  thank you when ⁷  you execute judgment; ⁸ 

I will rely ⁹  on you, ¹⁰  for your loyal followers know you are good. ¹¹ 

[52:7]  ¹ tn The imperfect verbal form here draws attention to the ongoing nature of the action. The evildoer customarily rejected God and trusted in his own abilities. Another option is to take the imperfect as generalizing, “[here is the man who] does not make.”

[52:7]  ² tn Heb “he was strong in his destruction.” “Destruction” must refer back to the destructive plans mentioned in v. 2. The verb (derived from the root עָזַז, ’azaz, “be strong”) as it stands is either an imperfect (if so, probably used in a customary sense) or a preterite (without vav [ו] consecutive). However the form should probably be emended to וַיָּעָז (vayya’az), a Qal preterite (with vav [ו] consecutive) from עָזַז. Note the preterite form without vav (ו) consecutive in the preceding line (וַיִּבְטַח, vayyivtakh, “and he trusted”). The prefixed vav (ו) was likely omitted by haplography (note the suffixed vav [ו] on the preceding עָשְׁרוֹ, ’oshro, “his wealth”).

[52:8]  ³ tn The disjunctive construction (vav [ו] + subject) highlights the contrast between the evildoer’s destiny (vv. 5-7) and that of the godly psalmist’s security.

[52:8]  ⁴ tn Or “luxuriant, green, leafy.”

[52:8]  ⁵ tn Or, hyperbolically, “forever and ever.”

[52:9]  ⁶ tn Or, hyperbolically, “forever.”

[52:9]  ⁷ tn Or “for.”

[52:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “you have acted.” The perfect verbal form (1) probably indicates a future perfect here. The psalmist promises to give thanks when the expected vindication has been accomplished. Other options include (2) a generalizing (“for you act”) or (3) rhetorical (“for you will act”) use.

[52:9]  ⁹ tn Or “wait.”

[52:9]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “your name.” God’s “name” refers here to his reputation and revealed character.

[52:9]  ¹¹ tn Heb “for it is good in front of your loyal followers.”