Psalms 52 · Verse 2

Psalms 52:2

Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Psalms 52:2, King James Version

Psalms 52:2 in other translations

BSBYour tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
WEBYour tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
ASVThy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
YLTMischiefs doth thy tongue devise, Like a sharp razor, working deceit.
DARBYThy tongue deviseth mischievous things, like a sharp razor, practising deceit.
BBEPurposing destruction, using deceit; your tongue is like a sharp blade.
WebsterThy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

What does Psalms 52:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. tongue--for self. mischiefs--evil to others (Psa 5:9; 38:12). working deceitfully--(Psa 10:7), as a keen, smoothly moving razor, cutting quietly, but deeply.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Deviseth mischiefs - Lies and slanders proceeding from the tongue argue the desperate wickedness of the heart. Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully - Which instead of taking off the beard, cuts and wounds the flesh; or as the operator who, when pretending to trim the beard, cuts the throat.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 52:1-5

Those that glory in sin, glory in their shame. The patience and forbearance of God are abused by sinners, to the hardening of their hearts in their wicked ways. But the enemies in vain boast in their mischief, while we have God's mercy to trust in. It will not save us from the guilt of lying, to be able to say, there was some truth in what we said, if we make it appear otherwise than it was. The more there is of…

Read the full comment on Psalms 52:1-5 →

Psalms 52:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַ֭וּוֹתHa.Votdestruction<s>H1942
תַּחְשֹׁ֣בtach.Shoit plotsH2803
לְשׁוֹנֶ֑ךָle.sho.Ne.khatongue yourH3956
כְּתַ֥עַרke.Ta.'arlike a razorH8593
מְ֝לֻטָּ֗שׁme.lu.TashsharpenedH3913
עֹשֵׂ֥ה'o.SehO doer ofH6213
רְמִיָּֽה\׃re.mi.YahdeceitH7423

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 52:2

  • Proverbs 18:21

    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

  • Proverbs 6:16-19

    These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

  • Proverbs 12:18

    There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

  • Psalms 57:4

    My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

  • Jeremiah 9:3-4

    And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.

  • Psalms 59:7

    Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?

  • Psalms 140:2-3

    Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

  • Psalms 50:19

    Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

  • Matthew 26:59

    Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

  • Psalms 120:2

    Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

  • Psalms 109:2

    For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

  • Acts 24:5

    For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Thy.
50:19; 64:2-6; 140:2,3; Pr 6:16-19; 30:14; Jer 9:3,4; 18:18
Mt 26:59; Ac 6:11-13; 24:1,5; Re 12:10
like.
57:4; 59:7; Pr 12:18; 18:21
working.
109:2; 120:2; 2Co 4:2; 11:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 52:1

    To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

  • Psalms 52:2

    Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

  • Psalms 52:3

    Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

Read all of Psalms 52

Psalms 52:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Agravios maquina tu lengua: como navaja amolada hace engaño.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		lorsque Doëg, l’Édomite, rapporta à Saül et lui dit: David est venu dans la maison d’Akhimélec.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Verderben sinnt deine Zunge, wie ein geschliffenes Schermesser Trug übend.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Corrupti sunt, et abominabiles facti sunt in iniquitatibus; non est qui faciat bonum.