Psalms 52:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

Why do you boast in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃

Transliteration

To the měnaṣṣēaḥ, a maśkîl of Dāwid.

Grammar Details

• *lǎ-*: preposition 'to/for' with definite article
• *měnaṣṣēaḥ*: participle, masculine singular, Piel form - director/choirmaster/chief musician
• *maśkîl*: noun, masculine singular - skillful composition/contemplative poem/instruction
• *lě-*: preposition 'to/for/of'
• *Dāwid*: proper noun - David

Word Meanings

• *měnaṣṣēaḥ*: choirmaster/chief musician/conductor/victor
• *maśkîl*: contemplative poem/skillful composition/instruction/didactic psalm

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For the director of music, a contemplative psalm of David.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  To the chief Musician, Maschil, A alm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God [endureth] continually.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  To the chief Musician{H8764)}, Maschil{H8688)}, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came{H8800)} and told{H8686)} Saul, and said{H8799)} unto him, David is come{H8804)} to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest{H8691)} thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Why boastest thou thy self (thou Tyraunt) that thou canst do myschefe?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  To him that excelleth. A Psalme of Dauid to giue instruction. When Doeg the Edomite came and shewed Saul, and saide to him, Dauid is come to the house of Abimelech. Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse, O man of power? the louing kindenesse of God indureth dayly.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  To the chiefe musition, a wyse instruction of Dauid, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and tolde him, saying: Dauid is come to the house of Achimelek. Why boastest thy self thou tiraunt of mischiefe? the goodnes of God dayly endureth.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

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

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  > Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  To the Overseer. -- An instruction, by David, in the coming in of Doeg the Edomite, and he declareth to Saul, and saith to him, `David came in unto the house of Ahimelech.' What, boasteth thou in evil, O mighty one? The kindness of God `is' all the day.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God `endureth' continually.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  [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]. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God [endureth] continually.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  <To the chief music-maker. Maschil. Of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul saying, David has come to the house of Ahimelech.> Why do you take pride in wrongdoing, lifting yourself up against the upright man all the day?

• World English Bible (2000)

  Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  For the music director; a well-written song by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul:“David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God’s loyal love protects me all day long!

Referenced Verses

• Ps 94:4 : 4 How long shall they utter and speak arrogant things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
• 1 Sam 21:7 : 7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul.
• Ps 103:17 : 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children;
• Ps 107:1 : 1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
• Ps 137:1-2 : 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yes, we wept when we remembered Zion. 2 We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.
• Prov 6:14 : 14 Perversity is in his heart, he devises mischief continually; he sows discord.
• Prov 6:18 : 18 A heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
• Isa 59:4 : 4 No one calls for justice, nor does anyone plead for truth: they trust in vanity and speak lies; they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.
• 1 Sam 22:9-9 : 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they all came to the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear now, you son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. 13 And Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? 15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? Far be it from me: let not the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much. 16 And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house. 17 And the king said to the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to attack the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn you, and attack the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five persons that wore a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, and oxen, and donkeys, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
• Ps 7:14 : 14 Behold, he travails with iniquity, and has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
• Ps 10:2-3 : 2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be caught in the devices they have imagined. 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the greedy, whom the LORD abhors.
• Gen 6:4-5 : 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men of old, men of renown. 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• Gen 10:8-9 : 8 And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, 'Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.'
• Exod 22:9 : 9 For every kind of trespass, whether it is for ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any lost thing that another claims to be his, both parties shall come before the judges; and he whom the judges convict shall pay double to his neighbor.
• Ps 36:3-6 : 3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he has ceased to be wise, and to do good. 4 He devises mischief upon his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil. 5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and your faithfulness reaches unto the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your judgments are a great deep: O LORD, you preserve man and beast.
• Ps 54:3 : 3 For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
• Ps 59:7 : 7 Behold, they belch out with their mouths; swords are in their lips, for who, they say, hears?
• Ps 10:7 : 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud; under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
• Jer 9:8 : 8 Their tongue is like an arrow shot out; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he lies in wait.
• Mic 7:3 : 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a reward; and the great man utters his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
• Rom 1:30 : 30 Backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
• 2 Tim 3:2 : 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
• 1 John 4:7-8 : 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.