Title.—(RV) '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.' In some respects Doeg (1 Samuel 22:9) might stand for the original of the wicked man in this Ps., but the absence of all reference to the massacre of the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:17-19) throws grave doubt upon the correctness of the title. The Ps. appears to reflect the social evils denounced by the prophets of later times (see Amos 5:11; Amos 8:6; Micah 2:2; Micah 3:2-3; Micah 7:3), and to be directed against some prominent oppressor, whose character and fate are depicted in Psalms 52:1-5, while Psalms 52:6-9 describe the contrasted happiness of the righteous man.
Psalms 52:1-9
1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; 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 shall likewise destroya 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.
6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:
7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.b
8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
9 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.