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.”
Great warrior, why are you bragging about the evil you did?
You are a disgrace to God.
You are nothing but a hired killer,* hired killer Literally, “sharpened razor.”
making plans to hurt people and making up lies!
You love evil more than goodness.
You love lies more than truth.
Selah
 
You and your lying tongue love to hurt people.
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
 
Good people will see this
and learn to fear and respect God.
They will laugh at you and say,
“Look what happened to the warrior who did not depend on God.
That fool thought his wealth and lies would protect him.”
 
But I am like a green olive tree growing in God’s Temple.
I will trust God’s faithful love forever and ever.
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.”