the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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New Living Translation
Psalms 52:1
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, "David has gone to see Ahimelech."
Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior? Don't you realize God's justice continues forever?Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.
For the choir director. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.Why boastest thy self thou tiraunt of mischiefe? the goodnes of God dayly endureth.
To the chief Musician: an instruction. Of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David came to the house of Ahimelech.
Why boastest thou thyself in evil, thou mighty man? The loving-kindness of God [abideth] continually.To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation [fn] of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, 'David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.' Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?The goodness of God endures continually.
To the chief musician. A Contemplation. A Psalm of David when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, David has come to the house of Ahimelech. Why do you boast yourself in evil,O hero? The mercy of God is allthe day.
To the director: A maskil of David written when Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, "David is in Ahimelech's house."
Great warrior, why are you bragging about the evil you did? You are a disgrace to God.<
[To the chiefe Musician, Maschil, A Psalme of Dauid: When Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said vnto him, Dauid is come to the house of Ahimelech.] Why boastest thou thy selfe in mischiefe, O mightie man? the goodnesse of God indureth continually.
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Why boastest thou thy self (thou Tyraunt) that thou canst do myschefe?
A David Psalm, When Doeg the Edomite Reported to Saul, "David's at Ahimelech's House" Why do you brag of evil, "Big Man"? God's mercy carries the day. You scheme catastrophe; your tongue cuts razor-sharp, artisan in lies. You love evil more than good, you call black white. You love malicious gossip, you foul-mouth.
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.
For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, David has come to the house of Ahimelech. Why do you boast yourself in mischief, O mighty man? The loving-kindness of God [endures] continually.
To the chief Musician, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God [endureth] continually.
For the music director; a well-written song by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: "David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech."
Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God's loyal love protects me all day long!(A special psalm by David for the music leader. He wrote this when Doeg from Edom went to Saul and said, "David has gone to Ahimelech's house.")
You people may be strong and brag about your sins, but God can be trusted day after day.For the leader. A maskil of David,
To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid to giue instruction. When Doeg the Edomite came and shewed Saul, and saide to him, Dauid is come to the house of Abimelech. Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse, O man of power? the louing kindenesse of God indureth dayly.
WHY do you boast of evil, O mighty man? Your tongue devises injustices against the innocent every day.
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For the Leader. Maschil of David;
Why do you take pride in wrong-doing, O powerful man? The loving-kindness of God lasts all day long.
Why dost thou, O mighty man, boast of iniquity in thy mischief? All the day
For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David: when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the mercy of God endureth continually.
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, "David has gone to the house of Ahimelech." Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."
Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly? All day long(51-1) <Unto the end, understanding for David, (51-2) When Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul: David went to the house of Achimelech.> (51-3) Why dost thou glory in malice, thou that art mighty in iniquity?
For the music director. A maskil of David.
When Doeg the Edomite came and informed Saul.
And he said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."
Why do you boast about evil, O mighty man? The loyal love of God endures continually.To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."
Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.Why do you boast in evil, you mighty man? The faithfulness of God endures all day long.
For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, "David is in Ahimelech's house."
Mighty warrior, why do you brag about the evil you do? God's love will continue forever.Why do you boast, great one, of your evil? God's faithfulness is eternal.
For the choir director. A Davidic Maskil. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, "David went to Ahimelech's house."
Why brag about evil, you hero! God's faithful love is constant.The title of the oon and fiftithe salm. To victorie, the salm of Dauid, `whanne Doech Idumei cam, and telde to Saul, and seide to him, Dauid cam in to the hows of Abymelech. What hast thou glorie in malice; which art miyti in wickidnesse?
To the Overseer. -- An instruction, by David, in the coming in of Doeg the Edomite, and he declareth to Saul, and saith to him, `David came in unto the house of Ahimelech.' What, boasteth thou in evil, O mighty one? The kindness of God [is] all the day.
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech." Why do you boast, O mighty man, of mischief done against the godly? All the day
Contextual Overview
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, "David has gone to see Ahimelech."
Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior? Don't you realize God's justice continues forever? 2 All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you're an expert at telling lies. 3 You love evil more than good and lies more than truth. Interlude 4 You love to destroy others with your words, you liar! 5 But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home and uproot you from the land of the living. InterludeBible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
told: Psalms 59:7, Jeremiah 9:8, Exodus 22:9
boastest: Psalms 10:2, Psalms 10:3, Psalms 94:4, Romans 1:30, 2 Timothy 3:2
mischief: Psalms 7:14, Psalms 10:7, Psalms 36:3-6, Proverbs 6:14, Proverbs 6:18, Isaiah 59:4, Micah 7:3
O mighty: Genesis 6:4, Genesis 6:5, Genesis 10:8, Genesis 10:9, 1 Samuel 21:7
goodness: Psalms 103:17, Psalms 107:1, Psalms 137:1, Psalms 137:2, 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:8
Reciprocal: Genesis 31:29 - the power Judges 9:20 - let fire come out 1 Samuel 22:9 - Doeg 2 Samuel 22:49 - the violent Psalms 12:2 - They Psalms 14:1 - no Psalms 26:3 - For Psalms 28:3 - mischief Psalms 34:8 - Lord Psalms 36:5 - mercy Psalms 66:7 - let Psalms 86:5 - thou Psalms 89:6 - the sons Psalms 94:20 - throne Psalms 100:5 - For the Proverbs 14:3 - the mouth Proverbs 15:25 - destroy Proverbs 24:28 - not Proverbs 26:1 - so Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He that Jeremiah 8:12 - ashamed when Jeremiah 37:14 - said Jeremiah 41:4 - after Daniel 11:27 - shall be to Matthew 19:17 - there Acts 14:17 - in that Acts 23:14 - General Galatians 6:14 - that I Philippians 3:19 - whose glory James 3:5 - so James 4:16 - General 2 Peter 2:18 - they speak
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief?.... Or "in evil" w; in that which is sinful; to glory in riches, wisdom, and strength, which are not in themselves evil, is wrong; and to rejoice in such boastings, all such rejoicing is evil; to be a doer of mischief, or sin, is bad; to make a sport of it, worse; but to glory in it, and boast of it when done, is worse still: to be boasters of evil things, is the character of antichrist and his followers, 2 Timothy 3:2; who not only boast of their merit, their good works, and works of supererogation, and of their riches, and honour, and grandeur, saying, "I sit as a queen", Revelation 18:7; but of their wickedness in shedding the blood of the saints, thinking thereby they do God good service, and merit heaven, and eternal happiness; as Doeg boasted of his slaughter of the priests, and of his gaining the king's favour by it;
O mighty man! referring either to his office, being the chief of Saul's herdmen, and set over his servants, 1 Samuel 21:7; or ironically, to the mighty deed he had done, in slaying the unarmed priests, and putting to death the very sucklings at the breast, and even the innocent sheep, oxen, and asses; or to his great wickedness and power to commit it; though man has no power and free will to that which is good, yet he has to that which is evil; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and the eastern versions render it, "O thou! mighty in wickedness"; and to the same purpose the Targum paraphrases it, "mighty to shed innocent blood"; and the note of Aben Ezra is, "mighty to do evil". A learned writer x thinks this relates to Saul, and describes him as a man of power and dignity. The character well agrees with the little horn and Romish beast, Daniel 7:20;
the goodness of God [endureth] continually: that is, the love, grace, and mercy of God; this is observed as what is the matter of the saints' boasting, in opposition to the wicked boasting of Doeg; they glory in the love of God, and in that they know him who exerciseth lovingkindness, which is the source of all the blessings of grace and goodness; and in Christ, through whom all are communicated to them; and in him, as made every blessing to them, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption: they ascribe the whole of their salvation, and all they have, to the grace of God, and glory in nothing as of themselves, and as though not received of the Lord. Moreover, the psalmist may take notice of this, as what was his support under all the persecutions he endured from men; that he had an interest in the grace and goodness of God, which is immutable and everlasting, invariably the same in all states and conditions; and that he was encompassed about with the favour of God as with a shield; and that it was not in the power of his most implacable enemies to separate him from the love of God; and therefore it was egregious folly in Doeg to boast himself in mischief; for, be he as mighty as he might, he could not prevent his sharing in the divine goodness, which always continues.
w ברעה "in malo", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus. x Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 1. p. 119.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Why boastest thou thyself in Mischief? - Why dost thou “exult” in that which is wrong? Why dost thou find pleasure in evil rather than in good? Why dost thou seek to triumph in the injury done to others? The reference is to one who prided himself on schemes and projects which tended to injure others; or who congratulated himself on the success which attended his efforts to wrong other people.
O mighty man - DeWette and Luther render this, “tyrant.” The original word would be properly applied to one of rank or distinction; a man of “power” - power derived either from office, from talent, or from wealth. It is a word which is often applied to a hero or warrior: Isaiah 3:2; Eze 39:20; 2 Samuel 17:10; Psalms 33:16; Psalms 120:4; Psalms 127:4; Daniel 11:3; Genesis 6:4; Jeremiah 51:30. So far as the “word” is concerned, it might be applied either to Saul or to any other warrior or man of rank; and Professor Alexander supposes that it refers to Saul himself. The connection, however, seems to require us to understand it of Doeg, and not of Saul, This appears to be clear
(a) from the general character here given to the person referred to, a character not particularly applicable to Saul, but applicable to an informer like Doeg Psalms 52:2-4; and
(b) from the fact that he derived his power, not from his rank and office, as Saul did, but mainly from his wealth Psalms 52:7. This would seem to imply that some other was referred to than Saul.
The goodness of God endureth continually - literally, “all the day.” That is, the wicked man could not hope to prevent the exercise of the divine goodness toward him whom he persecuted, and whom he sought to injure. David means to say that the goodness of God was so great and so constant, that he would protect his true friends from such machinations; or that it, was so unceasing and watchful, that the informer and accuser could not hope to find an interval of time when God would intermit his care, and when, therefore, he might hope for success. Against the goodness of God, the devices of a wicked man to injure the righteous could not ultimately prevail.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
PSALM LII
The psalmist points out the malevolence of a powerful enemy,
and predicts his destruction, 1-5.
At which destruction the righteous should rejoice, 6, 7.
The psalmist's confidence on God, 8, 9.
NOTES ON PSALM LII
The title is, "To the chief Musician, an instructive Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and informed Saul, and said to him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech." The history to which this alludes is the following: David, having learned that Saul was determined to destroy him, went to take refuge with Achish, king of Gath: in his journey he passed by Nob, where the tabernacle then was, and took thence the sword of Goliath; and, being spent with hunger, took some of the shewbread. Doeg, an Edomite, one of the domestics of Saul, being there, went to Saul, and informed him of these transactions. Saul immediately ordered Ahimelech into his presence, upbraided him for being a partisan of David, and ordered Doeg to slay him and all the priests. Doeg did so, and there fell by his hand eighty-five persons. And Saul sent and destroyed Nob and all its inhabitants, old and young, with all their property; none escaping but Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, who immediately joined himself to David. The account may be found 1 Samuel 21:1-7; 1 Samuel 22:9-23. All the Versions agree in this title except the Syriac, which speaks of it as a Psalm directed against vice in general, with a prediction of the destruction of evil.
Though the Psalm be evidently an invective against some great, wicked, and tyrannical man, yet I think it too mild in its composition for a transaction the most barbarous on record, and the most flagrant vice in the whole character of Saul.
Verse Psalms 52:1. Why boastest thou thyself — It is thought that Doeg boasted of his loyalty to Saul in making the above discovery; but the information was aggravated by circumstances of falsehood that tended greatly to inflame and irritate the mind of Saul. Exaggeration and lying are common to all informers.
O mighty man? — This character scarcely comports with Doeg, who was only chief of the herdsmen of Saul, 1 Samuel 21:7; but I grant this is not decisive evidence that the Psalm may not have Doeg in view, for the chief herdsman may have been a man of credit and authority.
