Psalm 52:2

Translations

Modern

Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.

Traditional

Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Literal

Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor working deceit.

Latin

Tota die injustitiam cogitavit lingua tua; sicut novacula acuta fecisti dolum.

Original

Hebrew

English

Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.

Notes

Psalms 52:1–4

Liars deceive themselves by thinking they can be heroes with their words. They see themselves as innocent, even though they love evil and cause harm. Those who speak curses, sarcasm, bitterness, arrogant boasting, and lies (Psalms 31:18; 34:13; 59:7, 12; 120:2–3; 140:3, 9) create chaos, isolation, and destruction (James 3:5). Their sharp words cut like swords and daggers (Psalms 55:21; 57:4; 64:3), the fangs of a snake (140:3), or a razor.

Psalms 52:1–9

Wicked people use words to destroy relationships and communities. They foolishly think that they can be heroes by their words (Psalm 52:1–4), but their downfall comes suddenly (52:5–7). In contrast, the godly renew their commitment to the Lord (Psalm 52:8–9) and find security in their future with him.

Psalms 51:1–65:13

These psalms of David share a common theme. They reflect on the experience of evil. In Psalm 51, the psalmist admits his wrongdoing and asks for God's forgiveness. Psalms 52–64 express sorrow over specific evils David faced. A song of praise (Psalm 65) brings David's laments to an end.

Theme notes and profiles

David

Related verses

Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 6:16–19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Psalm 57:4
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts—with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Jeremiah 9:3–4
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.
Psalm 59:7
See what they spew from their mouths—sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”
Psalm 140:2–3
…who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
Matthew 26:59
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.
2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
Psalm 64:2–6
Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,
Acts 24:5
We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
2 Corinthians 11:13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Psalm 52:2

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