Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LII (52)
Cantillated — Judicial Confidence
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 52 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has come to Ahimelech’s house.”
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃
בְּב֤וֹא ׀ דּוֹאֵ֣ג הָאֲדֹמִי֮ וַיַּגֵּ֪ד לְשָׁ֫א֥וּל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֑וֹ בָּ֥א דָ֝וִ֗ד אֶל־בֵּ֥ית אֲחִימֶֽלֶךְ׃
Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually.
מַה־תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל בְּ֭רָעָה הַגִּבּ֑וֹר חֶ֥סֶד אֵ֝֗ל כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
הַ֭וּוֹת תַּחְשֹׁ֣ב לְשׁוֹנֶ֑ךָ כְּתַ֥עַר מְ֝לֻטָּ֗שׁ עֹשֵׂ֥ה רְמִיָּֽה׃
You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.
אָהַ֣בְתָּ רָּ֣ע מִטּ֑וֹב שֶׁ֓קֶר ׀ מִדַּבֵּ֖ר צֶ֣דֶק סֶֽלָה׃
You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.
אָהַ֥בְתָּ כָֽל־דִּבְרֵי־בָ֗לַע לְשׁ֣וֹן מִרְמָֽה׃
God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
גַּם־אֵל֮ יִתָּצְךָ֪ לָ֫נֶ֥צַח יַחְתְּךָ֣ וְיִסָּחֲךָ֣ מֵאֹ֑הֶל וְשֵֽׁרֶשְׁךָ֨ מֵאֶ֖רֶץ חַיִּ֣ים סֶֽלָה׃
The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying,
וְיִרְא֖וּ צַדִּיקִ֥ים וְיִירָ֗אוּ וְעָלָ֥יו יִשְׂחָֽקוּ׃
“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
הִנֵּ֤ה הַגֶּ֗בֶר לֹ֤א יָשִׂ֥ים אֱלֹהִ֗ים מָֽע֫וּזּ֥וֹ וַ֭יִּבְטַח בְּרֹ֣ב עָשְׁר֑וֹ יָ֝עֹ֗ז בְּהַוָּתֽוֹ׃
But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ כְּזַ֣יִת רַ֭עֲנָן בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים בָּטַ֥חְתִּי בְחֶֽסֶד־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃
I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your saints.
אוֹדְךָ֣ לְ֭עוֹלָם כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֑יתָ וַאֲקַוֶּ֖ה שִׁמְךָ֥ כִֽי־ט֝֗וֹב נֶ֣גֶד חֲסִידֶֽיךָ׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Why do you boast in evil
O mighty man
The steadfast love of God
endures all day
You plan destruction
your tongue like a sharpened blade
Working deceit
crafting your lies
You love evil
more than what is good
You choose falsehood
instead of truth
God will tear you down
He will bring you down
Snatch you away
from your dwelling place
God will tear you down forever
God will tear you down forever
From your dwelling
from your dwelling
God will tear you down forever
God will tear you down forever
Root you out of life
you will not stand
The righteous see
they stand in fear
They look and speak
and laugh at him
Behold the man
who trusted wealth
Who would not make
his strength in God
God will bring it down
He will bring it down
Everything built
to the ground
God will tear you down forever
God will tear you down forever
From your dwelling
from your dwelling
God will tear you down forever
God will tear you down forever
Root you out of life
you will not stand
But I am like
a green olive tree
In the house of God
alive in Him
I trust in the steadfast love
of God always
Forever and ever
I will remain
I will thank You
for what You’ve done
I will wait
upon Your name
It is good
it is good
I will stand
I will stand
God will tear you down forever
God will tear you down forever
From your dwelling
from your dwelling
God will tear you down forever
God will tear you down forever
Root you out of life
you will not stand
I will trust in You
forever
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.