Psalm 52

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes: 140 Torwood, 155 Psalm 107

1    Why dost thou boast, O mighty man,

            of mischief and of ill?

      The goodness of Almighty God

            endureth ever still.

2    Thy tongue mischievous calumnies

            deviseth subtilely,

      Like to a razor sharp to cut,

            working deceitfully.

3    Ill more than good, and more than truth

            thou lovest to speak wrong:

4    Thou lovest all-devouring words,

            O thou deceitful tongue.

5    So God shall thee destroy for aye,

            remove thee, pluck thee out

      Quite from thy house, out of the land

            of life he shall thee root.

6    The righteous shall it see, and fear,

            and laugh at him they shall:

7    Lo, this the man is that did not

            make God his strength at all:

      But he in his abundant wealth

            his confidence did place;

      And he took strength unto himself

            from his own wickedness.

8    But I am in the house of God

            like to an olive green:

      My confidence for ever hath

            upon God’s mercy been.

9    And I for ever will thee praise,

            because thou hast done this:

      I on thy name will wait; for good

            before thy saints it is.