Psalm 52 1

Psalm 52:1 kjv

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

Psalm 52:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation 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.

Psalm 52:1 niv

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 Ahimelek." Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?

Psalm 52:1 esv

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.

Psalm 52:1 nlt

Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
Don't you realize God's justice continues forever?

Psalm 52 verses

Psalm 52 1 Meaning

Psalm 52:1 poses a sharp, rhetorical question to an individual who glories in wickedness. It highlights the foolishness and ultimate futility of such a person's evil boasting, setting it in stark contrast with the enduring and faithful character of God's covenant love. The verse condemns the arrogance of those who trust in their own malicious acts, implicitly pointing towards God's constant presence and ultimate judgment. While the verse begins with a condemnation, the latter part (as traditionally understood in most translations) pivotally reminds the righteous of God's unfailing faithfulness, which constantly abides.

Psalm 52 1 Context

Psalm 52 is explicitly linked by its superscription to a critical event in David’s life: "To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, 'David has come to Ahimelech’s house.'" This refers to the events recounted in 1 Samuel 21-22. David, fleeing from Saul, sought refuge and sustenance from the priest Ahimelech in Nob, who unknowingly provided him with the consecrated bread and Goliath’s sword. Doeg the Edomite, King Saul’s chief herdsman, witnessed this and reported it to Saul, painting David and Ahimelech as conspirators. Saul, in a fit of paranoia and rage, commanded his guards to kill the priests of Nob. When they refused, Doeg personally carried out the slaughter, killing 85 priests and destroying the city of Nob, including its women, children, and livestock. Thus, Psalm 52 is David’s prophetic lament and condemnation against Doeg's treachery, malice, and cruel boastfulness in his wicked act. The psalm’s initial question directly confronts Doeg's pride in his destructive evil, contrasting it with the foundational truth of God's steadfast, enduring love, which promises eventual justice and blessing for the righteous.

Psalm 52 1 Word analysis

• "Why do you boast": The Hebrew term is MaH-Tiht'HalEl (מַה-תִּתְהַלֵּל). Halal (הָלַל) in the Piel (intensive) stem, specifically the Hithpael (reflexive/reciprocal) here, means to boast, to glorify oneself, to act foolishly, or to make a show of something. The prefixed MaH (מַה) asks "Why" or "How." This is a sharp rhetorical question implying the folly and abhorrence of boasting in such a thing. Boasting is often seen as an act of self-exaltation and independence from God.
• "of evil": The Hebrew is bə-rā‘āh (בְרָעָה). Ra‘ (רַע) means bad, evil, distress, misfortune, or calamity. The preposition bə (בְ) means "in" or "with." So, "in evil" signifies a boasting not just about an evil deed, but within the sphere or by means of evil itself, taking pride in the very act of malevolence. This is not boasting about a personal accomplishment, but about destructive malice.
• "you mighty hero": The Hebrew is gibbôr (גִּבּוֹר). This term means mighty man, strong one, warrior, hero. It is often used positively for brave leaders (e.g., King David's mighty men). Here, it is used ironically or sarcastically. Doeg was indeed "mighty" in his capacity to carry out Saul's cruel command and his willingness to shed innocent blood. However, this strength is misdirected and used for destructive, God-defying evil, making his "might" a subject of condemnation, not praise. It suggests a prideful display of strength in doing wickedness.
• Words-group: "Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?" This phrasing, supplied in the prompt, represents a significant divergence from the Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew Bible). The traditional and overwhelming scholarly understanding of the second half of Psalm 52:1 is "The steadfast love of God endures all the day long" (חֶסֶד־אֵל כָּל־הַיּוֹם - ḥesed-’ēl kol-hayyôm).
  • "The steadfast love of God": Hebrew ḥesed-’ēl (חֶסֶד־אֵל). Ḥesed is a rich and complex Hebrew theological term signifying loyal love, steadfast love, covenant faithfulness, lovingkindness, mercy, and enduring grace. It describes God's constant, committed love towards His covenant people and His creation. ’Ēl (אֵל) is a common Hebrew name for God. This part of the verse, in traditional readings, dramatically contrasts Doeg's destructive boasting with God's ever-present and enduring faithfulness. It serves as a profound comfort and assurance to David (and the righteous) in the face of such treachery, affirming that God’s character provides stability against the chaos of human wickedness.
  • "endures all the day long": Hebrew kol-hayyôm (כָּל־הַיּוֹם), literally "all the day." This phrase signifies continually, perpetually, or without end. It emphasizes the unwavering, consistent, and everlasting nature of God’s ḥesed. It suggests that despite the temporary triumph of evil, God's steadfast love remains, always active and present.
  • Regarding the phrasing "Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?": While "all day long" reflects kol-hayyôm, the core idea of "disgrace in the eyes of God" entirely replaces "the steadfast love of God." This might be a highly interpretative translation or paraphrase focusing on the consequence of boasting in evil, i.e., being abhorrent to God, rather than the contrasting affirmation of God's character. In the standard Hebrew text, the Psalmist uses the stark contrast between human evil and divine ḥesed to underpin his trust in God's ultimate justice. Doeg's actions do make him a disgrace in God's eyes (a truth elsewhere affirmed in Scripture), but the verse’s traditional structure highlights God’s unwavering faithfulness as the antithesis and answer to such evil.

Psalm 52 1 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of human boasting in evil with the eternal steadfast love of God is a characteristic feature of biblical wisdom literature, providing not just a lament but also a teaching moment (Maskil). It serves as a reminder that the true reality is not found in the fleeting triumph of the wicked but in the unchanging character of the Almighty. The choice of gibbôr for Doeg also underscores a polemic: his earthly might and valor are rendered perverse and ultimately powerless because they are employed against God’s people and purposes. The irony highlights that genuine strength comes from alignment with God's truth, not from worldly power misused for destructive pride. This initial verse sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, which delves deeper into the wicked man's corrupt speech and actions (vv. 2-4), foretells his swift and decisive judgment (vv. 5-7), and contrasts it with the righteous who trust in God's steadfast love (vv. 8-9).

Psalm 52 1 Commentary

Psalm 52:1 opens with a pointed rhetorical challenge directed at Doeg, epitomizing the destructive nature of boasting in evil. The verse strips away any illusion of legitimate power from such arrogance by asking 'Why' one would find pride in malice. Doeg, called a "mighty hero" sarcastically, demonstrates physical strength used for malevolent ends—slaughtering priests and devastating Nob. This very act of evil, the psalmist observes, is the object of his "boasting" or self-exaltation. However, this human, self-aggrandizing evil is immediately set against the unshakeable foundation of God’s character.

The profound truth traditionally found in the second clause—"The steadfast love of God endures all the day long"—serves as the central theological anchor of the verse. It declares that no matter how mighty or pervasive human evil seems (Doeg boasting "all day long" in his destructive acts), it is temporary and overshadowed by the eternal constancy of God’s loyal love, His ḥesed. This serves as David’s confession of faith amidst turmoil, reassuring him (and the reader) that while human wickedness is abhorrent, God's goodness, faithfulness, and readiness to keep His covenant promises remain uninterrupted. This is a call to view evil in the context of divine sovereignty and justice, recognizing that God's faithful love will ultimately prevail over all human malice and boastfulness.
Examples:

• Boasting in evil: A person taking pride in outwitting another in a dishonest business deal, gloating over someone else's misfortune caused by their deceit, or spreading malicious gossip with delight.
• Contrast with God's steadfast love: Even when faced with deep injustice or personal suffering caused by another's evil, a believer finds peace and hope in the assurance that God's faithful love and ultimate justice are eternal and constant.