The Meaning of Psalms 52:3 Explained

Psalms 52:3

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

YLT: Thou hast loved evil rather than good, Lying, than speaking righteousness. Selah.

Darby: Thou hast loved evil rather than good, lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.

ASV: Thou lovest evil more than good, And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Psalms 52:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 52:1-9 - The Boaster And The Truster
The inscription of this psalm describes its origin. The contrast which it presents is full of instruction. The ungodly is often a mighty man in the estimation of the world. He boasts mischief; his tongue resembles the razor, which inflicts sharp and deep wounds; his words devour reputations, family-peace, and souls.
What a contrast is presented by the humble believer who trusts, not in wealth which vanishes, but in God's mercy which abides forever! Psalms 52:1-8. As the olives grew around the humble forest sanctuary at Nob, where the tragedy which called forth this psalm took place, and were hallowed by the shrine they encompassed, so the believer grows and is safe in loving fellowship with his Almighty Friend. Let us be among God's evergreens, drawing our nutriment from Him, as the roots struck into the rich mold. The psalmist is so certain of vindication and so assured of the overthrow of wickedness that he celebrates God's interposition before it takes place, and accounts it as being already accomplished. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 52

1  David, condemning the spitefulness of Doeg, prophesies his destruction
6  The righteous shall rejoice at it
8  David, upon his confidence in God's mercy, gives thanks

What do the individual words in Psalms 52:3 mean?

You love evil more than good Lying rather than speaking righteousness Selah
אָהַ֣בְתָּ רָּ֣ע מִטּ֑וֹב שֶׁ֓קֶר ׀ מִדַּבֵּ֖ר צֶ֣דֶק סֶֽלָה

אָהַ֣בְתָּ  You  love 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
רָּ֣ע  evil 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
מִטּ֑וֹב  more  than  good 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
שֶׁ֓קֶר ׀  Lying 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
מִדַּבֵּ֖ר  rather  than  speaking 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
צֶ֣דֶק  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
סֶֽלָה  Selah 
Parse: Interjection
Root: סֶלָה  
Sense: to lift up, exalt.