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Psalms 52:4

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 52:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou lovest all devouring words, thou deceitful tongue.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou lovest all devouring words, thou deceitful tongue.
Psalms 52:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 52

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God [endureth] continually.
2Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3Thou lovest evil more than good, And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah
4Thou lovest all devouring words, thou deceitful tongue.
5God will likewise destroy thee for ever; He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent, And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah
6The righteous also shall see [it], and fear, And shall laugh at him, [saying],
7Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.
← Psalms 52:3Psalms 52:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou lovest all devouring words, etc.] Or “words of swallowing up” f699; such as lies, calumnies, and detractions are, which devour the characters and reputations of men, and are the cause sometimes of their utter ruin and destruction; of the devouring and blasphemous words of antichrist (see <661305>Revelation 13:5,6); O [thou] deceitful tongue; (see Gill on “<195202>Psalm 52:2”).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“all-devouring--literally, "swallowing," which utterly destroy (compare Psa 21:9; Psa 35:25).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thou lovest all devouring words - All words that tend to devour or “swallow up” reputation and happiness. Luther, “Thou speakest gladly all things (anything) that will serve to destruction.” Anything, everything, that will serve to ruin people. The word rendered “devouring” - בלע bela‛ - occurs only here and in Jeremiah 51:44, though the verb from which it is derived occurs frequently: Isaiah 28:4; Exodus 7:12; Jonah 2:1 Jon 1:17; Genesis 41:7, Genesis 41:24, et al. The verb means to swallow; and then, to consume or destroy. O thou deceitful tongue - Margin, “and the deceitful tongue.” The sense is best expressed in the text. It is an address to the tongue as loving deceit or fraud. return…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“devouring: Sa1 22:18, Sa1 22:19; Jam 3:6-9 O thou: or, and the Psalms 52:5”
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Related study paths

Read Psalms 52 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification