Psalm 52:5

Translations

Modern

Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

Traditional

God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

Literal

Even God will tear you down forever; He will take you up and pluck you out of the tent and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

Latin

Propterea Deus destruet te in finem; evellet te, et emigrabit te de tabernaculo tuo, et radicem tuam de terra viventium.

Original

Hebrew

English

Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

Notes

Psalms 52:5

God will strike the wicked down like a pagan altar, idol, or unclean vessel (Exodus 34:13; Leviticus 11:35; 2 Kings 10:27).

Psalms 52:5–7

God’s judgment on the wicked will come suddenly and forcibly. The godly rejoice in God’s justice, not in the misfortunes of the wicked.

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 2:22
…but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.
Psalm 27:13
Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
Proverbs 12:19
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Job 18:14
He is torn from the shelter of his tent and is marched off to the king of terrors.
Isaiah 38:11
I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world.
Psalm 140:9–11
May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
Psalm 116:9
I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Psalm 64:7–10
But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be wounded.
Job 20:6–7
Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
Isaiah 22:19
I will remove you from office, and you will be ousted from your position.

Parallels

1 Samuel 22:6–23

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God Selah: A musical or liturgical term of uncertain meaning

Glossary

Ahimelech David Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Falsehood: General Scriptures Concerning The Punishment of the Wicked: Future Described as Everlasting Destruction The Rich: General Scriptures Concerning Wicked (People): Punishment of

Psalm 52:5

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