Psalm 52 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 52:3
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 52
The deceitful tongue uprooted
Verse 52:1 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:1] For the director. A Maskil of David,
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:1] For the end. Of understanding, of David,
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The performance heading and Maskil interpretation differ.
Verse 52:2 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:2] when Doeg the Edomite came and reported to Saul,
and said to him, “David came to Ahimelech's house.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:2] when Doeg the Idumean came and reported to Saul,
and said to him, “David came to Abimelech's house.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The actual name forms differ, notably Ahimelech and Abimelech; they are not harmonized.
Verse 52:3 Disparate
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:3] Why do you boast in evil, mighty one?
God's steadfast love lasts all day.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:3] Why do you boast in wickedness, mighty one,
in lawlessness all day long?
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew sets God's steadfast love against the boast; Greek continues the accusation of all-day lawlessness, without that statement about God.
Verse 52:4 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:4] Your tongue devises destruction,
like a sharpened razor, working deceit.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:4] Your tongue devised injustice;
like a sharpened razor you worked deceit.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek makes the person the explicit worker of deceit in the second clause.
Verse 52:5 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:5] You love evil more than good,
falsehood more than speaking righteousness. Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:5] You loved wickedness more than goodness,
injustice more than speaking righteousness. Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew falsehood becomes Greek injustice.
Verse 52:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:6] You love every devouring word,
you deceitful tongue.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:6] You loved every word of drowning,
a deceitful tongue.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew devouring becomes Greek drowning; Greek's final noun phrase remains an object rather than an explicit address.
Verse 52:7 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:7] So God will tear you down forever;
He will seize you and tear you from the tent
and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:7] Therefore God will pull you down completely;
may He pluck you out and remove you from your dwelling,
and your root from the land of the living. Diapsalma.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek shifts from prediction to wishes and explicitly names the uprooted root.
Verse 52:8 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:8] The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh at him:
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:8] The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh at him and say:
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Greek explicitly introduces the following speech.
Verse 52:9 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:9] “Look at the man who did not make God his stronghold,
but trusted in his great wealth
and made himself strong in his destruction.”
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:9] “Look at the person who did not make God his helper,
but hoped in the abundance of his wealth
and became strong in his vanity.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew's destructive power becomes Greek vanity; stronghold becomes helper.
Verse 52:10 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:10] But I am like a flourishing olive tree in God's house;
I trust in God's steadfast love forever and ever.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:10] But I am like a fruitful olive tree in God's house;
I hoped in God's mercy
forever and for age upon age.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Hebrew emphasizes flourishing foliage; Greek fruitfulness.
Verse 52:11 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[52:11] I will thank You forever, because You have acted;
I will wait for Your name, for it is good,
in the presence of Your faithful ones.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[51:11] I will thank You forever, because You acted,
and I will wait for Your name,
because it is kind before Your holy ones.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The testimony and waiting agree; the attachment of the final phrase is slightly different.