Psalm 52:1
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New International Version (©1984)
For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: "David has gone to the house of Ahimelech." Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
[For the choir director; a [maskil]; a psalm by David when Doeg (who was from Edom) told Saul that David had come to Ahimelech's home.] Why do you brag about the evil you've done, you hero? The mercy of God lasts all day long!

King James Bible
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

American King James Version
Why boast you yourself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endures continually.

American Standard Version
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.

Bible in Basic English
<To the chief music-maker. Maschil. Of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul saying, David has come to the house of Ahimelech.> Why do you take pride in wrongdoing, lifting yourself up against the upright man all the day?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the end, understanding for David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul David went to the house of Achimelech Why dost thou glory in malice, thou that art mighty in iniquity?

Darby Bible Translation
{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 łGod abideth continually.

English Revised Version
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Geneva Study Bible

<A Psalm 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 {a} mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

(a) O Doeg, who half consider to be the tyrant Saul, and had the power to murder the saints of God.

Wesley's Notes

52:1 Continually - God is continually doing good: thou art continually doing mischief. O mighty - He speaks ironically. O valiant captain! To kill a few weak and unarmed persons.

King James Translators' Notes

Maschil: or, of instruction

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

PSALM 52

Ps 52:1-9. Compare 1Sa 21:1-10; 22:1-10, for the history of the title. Ps 52:1 gives the theme; the boast of the wicked over the righteous is vain, for God constantly cares for His people. This is expanded by describing the malice and deceit, and then the ruin, of the wicked, and the happy state of the pious.

1. mighty man-literally, "hero." Doeg may be thus addressed, ironically, in respect of his might in slander.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

52:1-5 Those that glory in sin, glory in their shame. The patience and forbearance of God are abused by sinners, to the hardening of their hearts in their wicked ways. But the enemies in vain boast in their mischief, while we have God's mercy to trust in. It will not save us from the guilt of lying, to be able to say, there was some truth in what we said, if we make it appear otherwise than it was. The more there is of craft and contrivance in any wickedness, the more there is of Satan in it. When good men die, they are transplanted from the land of the living on earth, to heaven, the garden of the Lord, where they shall take root for ever; but when wicked men die, they are rooted out, to perish for ever. The believer sees that God will destroy those who make not him their strength.


1 Samuel 22:9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing by the servants of Saul, said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
Psalm 52:8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever.
Psalm 94:4 They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; All who do wickedness vaunt themselves. (NASB ©1995)

Abimelech's Ahimelech Boast Boastest Chief Choirmaster Contemplation Continually David Director Doeg Edomite Endures Endureth Evil Godly God's Goodness House Kindness Loving Maschil Maskil Mighty Mischief Musician Saul Thyself


Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

1-5 David, condemning the spitefulness of Doeg, prophesies his destruction 6,7 The righteous shall rejoice at it 8,9 David, upon his confidence in God's mercy, gives thanks

A.M. 2942 B.C. 1062 (Title.) Doeg. Ps 54:3 1Sa 21:7 22:9-19

told Ps 59:7 Jer 9:8 Ex 22:9

boastest Ps 10:2,3 94:4 Ro 1:30 2Ti 3:2

mischief Ps 7:14 10:7 36:3-6 Pr 6:14,18 Mic 7:3

O mighty Ge 6:4,5 10:8,9 1Sa 21:7

goodness Ps 103:17 107:1 137:1,2 1Jo 4:7,8

Bible Gateway: Psalms Chapter 52 Verse 1 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: A Ahimelech all and are boast David day director disgrace do Doeg Edomite endures evil eyes For God gone had has him house in long lovingkindness man maskil mighty music O of Saul the to told When who Why you

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