Psalm 51:1–7

Title 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.”

1 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?

2 You who practice deceit,

your tongue plots destruction;

it is like a sharpened razor.

3 You love evil rather than good,

falsehood rather than speaking the truth.

4 You love every harmful word,

you deceitful tongue!

5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:

He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;

he will uproot you from the land of the living.

Title To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?

The steadfast love of God endures all the day.

2 Your tongue plots destruction,

like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

3 You love evil more than good,

and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah

4 You love all words that devour,

O deceitful tongue.

5 But God will break you down forever;

he will snatch and tear you from your tent;

he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

Title To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?

The goodness of God endureth continually.

2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs;

Like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.

3 Thou lovest evil more than good;

And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

4 Thou lovest all devouring words,

O thou deceitful tongue.

5 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.

Title For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, “David has gone to see Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?

Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?

2 All day long you plot destruction.

Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;

you’re an expert at telling lies.

3 You love evil more than good

and lies more than truth.

Interlude

4 You love to destroy others with your words,

you liar!

5 But God will strike you down once and for all.

He will pull you from your home

and uproot you from the land of the living.

Interlude

Title 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.”

1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?

The goodness of God endures continually.

2 Your tongue devises destruction,

Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

3 You love evil more than good,

Lying rather than speaking righteousness.

Selah

4 You love all devouring words,

You deceitful tongue.

5 God shall likewise destroy you forever;

He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,

And uproot you from the land of the living.

Selah

Title For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David is in Ahimelech’s house.”

1 Mighty warrior, why do you brag about the evil you do?

God’s love will continue forever.

2 You think up evil plans.

Your tongue is like a sharp razor,

making up lies.

3 You love wrong more than right

and lies more than truth.

Selah

4 You love words that bite

and tongues that lie.

5 But God will ruin you forever.

He will grab you and throw you out of your tent;

he will tear you away from the land of the living.

Selah

Title For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.

1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man?

The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.

2 Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness,

Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

3 Thou lovest evil more than good,

And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah

4 Thou lovest all devouring words,

O thou deceitful tongue.

5 God will likewise destroy thee for ever;

He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent,

And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah

Title To the chief Musician: an instruction. Of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David came to the house of Ahimelech.

1 Why boastest thou thyself in evil, thou mighty man? The loving-kindness of •God abideth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischievous things, like a sharp razor, practising deceit. 3 Thou hast loved evil rather than good, lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou hast loved all devouring words, O deceitful tongue! 5 •God shall likewise destroy thee for ever; he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy tent, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

Title For the choir director; a maskil; a psalm by David when Doeg (who was from Edom) told Saul that David had come to Ahimelech’s home. 

1 Why do you brag about the evil you’ve done, you hero? 

The mercy of God lasts all day long! 

2 Your tongue makes up threats. 

It’s like a sharp razor, you master of deceit. 

3 You prefer evil to good. 

You prefer lying to speaking the truth. 

Selah 

4 You love every destructive accusation, you deceitful tongue! 

5 But God will ruin you forever. 

He will grab you and drag you out of your tent. 

He will pull your roots out of this world of the living. 

Selah 

Title For the choir director. A Davidic Maskil. When Doeg the Edomite went and reported to Saul, telling him, “David went to Ahimelech’s house.”

1 Why brag about evil, you hero!

God’s faithful love is constant.

2 Like a sharpened razor,

your tongue devises destruction,

working treachery.

3 You love evil instead of good,

lying instead of speaking truthfully. Selah

4 You love any words that destroy,

you treacherous tongue!

5 This is why God will bring you down forever.

He will take you, ripping you out of your tent;

He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

Title To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast, O mighty one,

of mischief done against the godly?

All day long 2 you are plotting destruction.

Your tongue is like a sharp razor,

you worker of treachery.

3 You love evil more than good

and lying more than speaking the truth.   Selah

4 You love all words that devour,

O deceitful tongue.

5 But God will break you down forever;

he will snatch and tear you from your tent;

he will uproot you from the land of the living.   Selah

Title For the music director. A maskil of David.

When Doeg the Edomite came and informed Saul.

And he said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast about evil, O mighty man?

The loyal love of God endures continually.

2 Your tongue plans destruction,

like a sharp razor, working deceit.

3 You love evil more than good,

a lie more than speaking what is right. Selah

4 You love all devouring words,

O deceitful tongue,

5 but God will pull you down forever.

He will snatch you and tear you away from your tent,

and he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

Title For the director of music. A maskil of David when Doeg, who was from Edom, had gone to Saul. Doeg had told Saul, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 You think you are such a big, strong man!

Why do you brag about the evil things you’ve done?

You are a dishonor to God all the time.

2 You plan ways to destroy others.

Your tongue is like a blade that has a sharp edge.

You are always telling lies.

3 You love evil instead of good.

You would rather lie than tell the truth. Selah

4 You love to harm others with your words, you liar!

5 So God will destroy you forever.

He will grab hold of you and throw you out of your tent.

He will remove you from this life. Selah

Title For the choir director. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul and said to him, “David has come to the house of Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?

The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.

2 Your tongue devises destruction,

Like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit.

3 You love evil more than good,

Falsehood more than speaking what is right.

Selah.

4 You love all words that devour,

O deceitful tongue.

5 But God will break you down forever;

He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent,

And uproot you from the land of the living.

Selah.