Psalm 52 9

Psalm 52:9 kjv

I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

Psalm 52:9 nkjv

I will praise You forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

Psalm 52:9 niv

For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Psalm 52:9 esv

I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.

Psalm 52:9 nlt

I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.

Psalm 52 verses

Psalm 52 9 Meaning

Psalm 52:9 encapsulates David's profound gratitude and steadfast trust in God's past, decisive actions against wickedness, particularly concerning Doeg. It expresses a lifelong commitment to giving thanks because God, the righteous judge, "has done it" – accomplishing justice and intervention. This thanksgiving is linked to a patient, hopeful waiting for God's character and presence to be revealed further, recognizing that His very "Name" (representing His nature and reputation) is inherently good and beneficial. This declaration of trust and praise is offered within the sacred communal space, acknowledging the presence and affirmation of God's faithful people.

Psalm 52 9 Context

Psalm 52 is a Miktam (a psalm of a secret or golden nature, often reflective) of David, linked to a specific historical event found in 1 Samuel 21-22. It directly follows Doeg the Edomite’s malicious report to King Saul concerning David's visit to Ahimelech the priest at Nob. Doeg’s treachery led to Saul’s command for the slaughter of the innocent priests of Nob. David contrasts Doeg’s destructive deceit (highlighted in verses 1-5, describing him as a mighty man in evil, boasting in wickedness, and a liar) with the unwavering goodness and justice of God (v. 6-8). While Doeg trusts in his ill-gotten gains and boasts in wickedness, David declares his own trust in God's hesed (loyal love). Verse 9 serves as David's confident, celebratory conclusion, an oath of eternal thanksgiving and a commitment to trust in God’s character in the sight of God’s people, reflecting his confidence that God has dealt with or will deal with Doeg and vindicate the righteous. The Psalm transitions from lament over the wicked to confident praise of God.

Psalm 52 9 Word analysis

• אֹודְךָ֤ (Ohd'kha) - "I will give thanks to you": From the root יָדָה (yadah), meaning to praise, confess, thank. This is a Hiphil form, which suggests an active, outward declaration of thanksgiving, often accompanied by stretching out the hands. It signifies acknowledging God's deeds and character, often with open hands in praise or submission. The future tense implies a perpetual commitment, not just a one-time act.
• לְעוֹלָם֙ (L'olam) - "forever": Derived from עוֹלָם (olam), indicating perpetuity, eternity, everlasting. It emphasizes an unending commitment to praise, demonstrating profound and unshakeable trust beyond any present circumstances. It implies David’s dedication will endure as long as he lives, and metaphorically beyond that.
• כִּ֣י (Ki) - "because" or "surely": This conjunction can be causal ("because") or emphatic ("surely," "indeed"). Here, it introduces the reason for David's perpetual thanksgiving, linking it directly to God's decisive action.
• עָשִׂ֣יתָה (Asitah) - "you have done it": From the verb עָשָׂה (asah), meaning to make, do, perform, accomplish. This past tense verb points to a completed action. In the context of the Psalm, "it" refers to God's decisive intervention and righteous judgment against the wicked (Doeg and his ilk) and His vindication of the righteous. It conveys God's sovereign power and faithfulness in upholding justice. This phrase indicates the full assurance that God has indeed acted or will definitively act.
• וַאֲקַוֶּה֙ (Va'akaveh) - "And I will wait for": From קָוָה (qavah), meaning to wait, hope, look eagerly, tarry, bind together. This carries the sense of patient expectation and trust, often implying clinging to hope in difficult times. It is not a passive waiting but an active, hopeful, and persistent looking to God. The waw conjunctive ("and") connects it to the previous statement, showing that his gratitude stems from what God has done, and also fuels his future expectation.
• שִׁמְךָ֣ (Shimkha) - "Your name": שֵׁם (shem) signifies not just a designation but the essence, character, reputation, authority, and presence of God. Waiting for God's Name means trusting in His revealed attributes, His faithful nature, His promises, and His divine being itself. It’s an anticipation of God manifesting Himself according to who He truly is.
• כִי־ט֑וֹב (Ki-tov) - "because it is good" or "for it is good": טוֹב (tov) means good, pleasant, wholesome, morally excellent, beneficial. This describes the very nature of God's Name and character. Waiting for God's Name is reasonable and rewarding precisely because His character is fundamentally and eternally good, always leading to righteous and beneficial outcomes for His people. It contrasts sharply with the "goodness" (riches, deceit) that the wicked trust in (v. 7).
• נֶ֝֗גֶד (Neged) - "in the presence of": Meaning opposite, before, in sight of. This signifies a public declaration, a confession made openly within the community. It emphasizes transparency and shared faith.
• חֲסִידֶֽיךָ׃ (Chasidekha) - "Your faithful ones," "Your saints": From חָסִיד (chasid), referring to those who are pious, godly, and loyal to God, recipients and reflectors of His חֶסֶד (chesed – steadfast love/loyal mercy). The psalmist makes his declaration not in isolation, but among fellow believers, finding affirmation and solidarity in their shared trust in God's goodness and justice. It emphasizes the communal aspect of worship and faith.

Words-group analysis:

• "I will give thanks to you forever, because you have done it": This phrase combines profound, continuous praise with a retrospective acknowledgement of God’s complete and effective action. It reveals a deeply personal yet decisive faith, resting on God's sovereignty and intervention against injustice. It contrasts Doeg’s destructive deeds with God’s constructive ones.
• "I will wait for your name, for it is good": This speaks of an active, hopeful orientation towards God's future manifestation of His character and power, grounded in the certainty of His inherent goodness. It's a commitment to trusting God's very nature regardless of circumstances, contrasting the temporal security sought by the wicked with the eternal, trustworthy nature of God.
• "in the presence of your saints": This concludes the verse by anchoring the individual's commitment within the context of the faith community. It suggests a corporate aspect to worship, mutual encouragement, and a public testimony to God’s goodness that is affirmed by and serves to edify other believers. It implies accountability and solidarity among God's devoted ones.

Psalm 52 9 Bonus section

The term חֲסִידֶֽיךָ (chasidekha – Your faithful ones) implicitly links this verse back to the חֶסֶד (chesed – loyal love) of God mentioned in the preceding verse (v. 8), where David says he trusts "in the steadfast love of God forever and ever." The chasidim are those who are subjects of and responsive to God's chesed. Thus, the "presence of your saints" signifies a community built on God’s faithful love, where His goodness is known and experienced. This stands in stark contrast to Doeg's false community of "lying tongues" and those who "love evil more than good" (v. 3). This Psalm provides a deep theological grounding for personal piety connected to communal witness.

Psalm 52 9 Commentary

Psalm 52:9 serves as the climax of David’s confident response to Doeg’s wickedness. It pivots from lament over evil to jubilant and eternal thanksgiving, rooted in an unshakeable confidence that God is just and has acted decisively ("you have done it"). This completed action (perhaps Doeg's future punishment or David's deliverance, viewed with prophetic certainty) is the foundation of his gratitude. Furthermore, David commits to patiently and expectantly "wait" for God’s "name" – His very character, reputation, and attributes – affirming that it "is good." This goodness is not merely a descriptive trait but an active, redemptive, and sustaining force. This declaration of trust is not private but public, made "in the presence of your saints," highlighting the communal nature of faith, where believers mutually affirm God's justice and goodness, finding solace and strength in shared testimony. It is a commitment to trust God’s character publicly and perpetually, regardless of the apparent triumph of the wicked, affirming that ultimately, only God and His loyal love endure and are truly good.