Psalms 52:7

7 “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!”

Psalms 52:7 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 "See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!"
New Living Translation (NLT)
7 “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
7 "Big Man bet on the wrong horse, trusted in big money, made his living from catastrophe."
American Standard Version (ASV)
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.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
7 "Look at this person who refused to make God his fortress! Instead, he trusted his great wealth and became strong through his greed."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
7 "Here is the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, taking refuge in his destructive behavior."
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
7 "Just look at this fellow! He didn't depend on God for his safety. He put his trust in all his wealth. He grew strong by destroying others!"

Psalms 52:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 52:7

Lo, [this is] the man [that] made not God his strength
The Targum renders it, "that made not the Word of the Lord his strength". These are the words the righteous would say, when they should see the destruction of Doeg: see the man, the mighty man, and his end; what all his ill gotten honour and riches are come to; and what his wickedness, deceit, and cruelty, have brought upon him. The righteous make the Lord their strength, put their trust in him, in whom is everlasting strength; do all they do in his strength; fly to him as their "strong hold", as the word F2 may be rendered; thither they run, and are safe: but the rich man's wealth is his strong city, ( Proverbs 18:10 Proverbs 18:11 ) ; there he thinks himself safe, and places his confidence in it, as follows:

but trusted in the abundance of his riches; (See Gill on Psalms 49:6); so the antichristian whore is represented as boasting of her riches and honour, and trusting in them, that they would always continue, ( Revelation 18:7 ) ; like the fool in ( Luke 12:19 Luke 12:20 ) ;

[and] strengthened himself in his wickedness;
encouraged and hardened himself in sin, gave up himself to it; and, by art obstinate continuance in it, strengthened the vicious habits contracted; stretched out his hand against God, and strengthened himself against the Almighty; went on in a daring manner, promising himself impunity; and as if his wickedness was his strength, his safeguard and protection: or in his mammon, his wealth and substance; as the Targum interprets it; and so R. Saadiah Gaon F3, and with which the Syriac version agrees; and then the sense is the same with the other clause. But, alas! what are all such forces of strength, when wrath comes forth from the Lord of hosts? ( Job 36:18 Job 36:19 ) ( Proverbs 11:4 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F2 (wzwem) "arcem suam", Cocceius; "presidium, munimemtum", Michaelis.
F3 Apud Kimchi in loc.

Psalms 52:7 In-Context

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.
6 The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying,
7 “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!”
8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
9 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S 2 Samuel 22:3
  • 2. S Psalms 49:6; S Proverbs 11:28; Mark 10:23
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