The Meaning of Psalms 52:9 Explained

Psalms 52:9

KJV: I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

YLT: I thank Thee to the age, because Thou hast done it, And I wait on Thy name for it is good before Thy saints!

Darby: I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it; and I will wait on thy name, before thy godly ones, for it is good.

ASV: I will give thee thanks for ever, because thou hast done it; And I will hope in thy name, for it is good, in the presence of thy saints.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will praise  thee for ever,  because thou hast done  [it]: and I will wait  on thy name;  for [it is] good  before thy saints. 

What does Psalms 52:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The psalmist thanked God for making him like an olive tree in the Lord"s house. He acknowledged that the reason he was the man he was, and not as Doeg, was due to God"s grace, not his own works. He purposed to continue to hope in the Lord, confident that he would praise Him in spite of the opposition of treacherous enemies. Those among whom David would wait were other believers.
We, the saints, need not despair when wicked people oppose us. God will deal with our enemies. In the meantime, we should continue to trust and praise God in the company of His people.

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 52:9 mean?

I will praise You forever because You have done [it] and I will wait on Your name for [it is] good in the presence of Your saints
אוֹדְךָ֣ לְ֭עוֹלָם כִּ֣י עָשִׂ֑יתָ וַאֲקַוֶּ֖ה שִׁמְךָ֥ כִֽי־ ט֝֗וֹב נֶ֣גֶד חֲסִידֶֽיךָ

אוֹדְךָ֣  I  will  praise  You 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יָדָה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast.
לְ֭עוֹלָם  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
כִּ֣י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
עָשִׂ֑יתָ  You  have  done  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וַאֲקַוֶּ֖ה  and  I  will  wait  on 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common singular
Root: קָוָה 
Sense: to wait, look for, hope, expect.
שִׁמְךָ֥  Your  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
ט֝֗וֹב  [it  is]  good 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
נֶ֣גֶד  in  the  presence 
Parse: Preposition
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
חֲסִידֶֽיךָ  of  Your  saints 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חָסִיד  
Sense: faithful, kind, godly, holy one, saint, pious.