Psalms 52 · Verse 3

Psalms 52:3

Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
Psalms 52:3, King James Version

Psalms 52:3 in other translations

BSBYou love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah
WEBYou love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.
ASVThou lovest evil more than good, And lying rather than to speak righteousness. [Selah
YLTThou hast loved evil rather than good, Lying, than speaking righteousness. Selah.
DARBYThou hast loved evil rather than good, lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
BBEYou have more love for evil than for good, for deceit than for works of righteousness. (Selah.)
WebsterThou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

What does Psalms 52:3 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Thou lovest evil - This was a finished character. Let us note the particulars: 1. He boasted in the power to do evil. 2. His tongue devised, studied, planned, and spoke mischiefs. 3. He was a deceitful worker. 4. He loved evil and not good. 5. He loved lying; his delight was in falsity. 6. Every word that tended to the destruction of others he loved. 7. His tongue was deceitful; he pretended friendship while his heart was full of enmity, Psa 52:1-4. Now behold the punishment: -

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 52:3 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.

אָהַ֣בְתָּ'a.Hav.tayou loveH157
רָּ֣עra'evilH7451
מִטּ֑וֹבmi.Tovmore than goodH2896
שֶׁ֓קֶר\׀She.kerfalsehoodH8267
מִדַּבֵּ֖רmi.da.Bermore than speakingH1696
צֶ֣דֶקTze.dekrighteousnessH6664
סֶֽלָה\׃Se.lahSelahH5542

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

Cross references for Psalms 52:3

  • Jeremiah 9:3-5

    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. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • 2 Timothy 3:4

    Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

  • Romans 1:25

    Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

  • Revelation 22:15

    For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

  • Micah 3:2

    Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;

  • Jeremiah 4:22

    For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

  • Jeremiah 9:8

    Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

  • Psalms 62:4

    They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
lovest.
Jer 4:22; Mic 3:2; Ro 1:25; 2Ti 3:4
lying.
62:4; Jer 9:3-5,8; Joh 8:44; Re 22:15

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Psalms 52:4

    Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

Read all of Psalms 52

Psalms 52:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Amaste el mal más que el bien; la mentira más que hablar justicia. (Selah.)
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Pourquoi te glorifies-tu du mal, homme fort? La bonté de ✶Dieu subsiste de jour en jour.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Du hast das Böse mehr geliebt, als das Gute, die Lüge mehr, als Gerechtigkeit zu reden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Deus de cælo prospexit super filios hominum, ut videat si est intelligens, aut requirens Deum.