52
To the director: A maskil of David written when Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David is in Ahimelech’s house.”
1 Great warrior, why are you bragging about the evil you did?
You are a disgrace to God.
2 You are nothing but a hired killer,* hired killer Literally, “sharpened razor.”
making plans to hurt people and making up lies!
3 You love evil more than goodness.
You love lies more than truth.
Selah
4 You and your lying tongue love to hurt people.
5 So God will ruin you forever!
He will grab you and pull you from your home,† home This means the body. This is a poetic way of saying, “God will end your life here on earth.” like someone pulling up a plant by the roots!‡ like someone … roots Literally, “He will root you up from the land of the living.” This also means “He will kill you and your descendants.”
Selah
6 Good people will see this
and learn to fear and respect God.
They will laugh at you and say,
7 “Look what happened to the warrior who did not depend on God.
That fool thought his wealth and lies would protect him.”
8 But I am like a green olive tree growing in God’s Temple.
I will trust God’s faithful love forever and ever.
9 God, I praise you forever for what you have done.
I will speak your name§ speak your name Or “I will trust your name.” before your followers because it is so good!
*52:2 hired killer Literally, “sharpened razor.”
†52:5 home This means the body. This is a poetic way of saying, “God will end your life here on earth.”
‡52:5 like someone … roots Literally, “He will root you up from the land of the living.” This also means “He will kill you and your descendants.”
§52:9 speak your name Or “I will trust your name.”