Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?

Psalm 52, Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long. Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right.[Selah]. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up, and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. [Selah]. And the righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, “Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and was strong in his evil desire.” But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. I will give Thee thanks forever, because Thou hast done it, and I will wait on Thy name, for it is good, in the presence of Thy godly ones.

There are those who will stop at nothing to get what they want; deceit is a way of life. The Psalmist helps us to keep this in perspective, for God is ultimately in control. We who have put our trust in Him can join with Paul in declaring the truth: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

We put all of our trust in You; keep us away from deceit and turn us towards Your truth at every step, O Lord. Your mercies endure forever!