David, condemning the spitefulness of Doeg, prophesies his destruction, 1-5. The righteous shall rejoice at it, 6, 7. David, upon his confidence in God's mercy, gives thanks, 8, 9.
1 [To the Chief Musician. Maschil. A Psalm of David: when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelech."]
Why do you boast yourself in mischief, O mighty man?/
The goodness of God endures continually.
2 Your tongue devises mischiefs,/
like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 You love evil more than good/
and lying rather than speaking righteousness./
[Selah.]
4 You love all devouring words,/
O deceitful tongue.
5 God shall likewise destroy you forever./
He shall take you away and pluck you out of your dwelling-place./
He shall root you out of the land of the living./
[Selah.]
6 The righteous also shall see and fear./
They shall laugh at him:
7 "Behold, this is the man who did not make God his strength,/
but trusted in the abundance of his riches/
and strengthened himself in his wickedness."
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God./
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
9 I will praise you forever because you have done it./
I will wait on your name, for it is good,/
in the presence of your saints.
Matthew Henry Commentary - Psalms, Chapter 52[➚]
John Calvin's Chapter Summary:
This psalm was composed by David at the time when the death of Abimelech and the other priests had spread universal terror among the people, indisposing them for lending any countenance to his cause, and when Doeg was triumphing in the successful issue of his information. Supported, even in these circumstances, by the elevating influence of faith, he inveighs against the cruel treachery of that unprincipled informer, and encourages himself by the reflection, that God, who is judge in heaven, will vindicate the interests of such as fear him, and punish the pride of the ungodly.