e day long thy tongue hath devised injustice: as a sharp
razor, thou hast wrought deceit.

51:5. Thou hast loved malice more than goodness: and iniquity rather
than to speak righteousness.

51:6. Thou hast loved all the words of ruin, O deceitful tongue.

51:7. Therefore will God destroy thee for ever: he will pluck thee out,
and remove thee from thy dwelling place: and thy root out of the land of
the living.

51:8. The just shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, and say:

51:9. Behold the man that made not God his helper: But trusted in the
abundance of his riches: and prevailed in his vanity.

51:10. But I, as a fruitful olive tree in the house of God, have hoped
in the mercy of God for ever, yea for ever and ever.

51:11. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I
will wait on thy name, for it is good in the sight of thy saints.

Psalms Chapter 52

Dixit insipiens.

The general corruption of man before the coming of Christ.

52:1. Unto the end, for Maeleth, understandings to David. The fool said
in his heart: There is no God.

Maeleth... Or Machalath. A musical instrument, or a chorus of musicians,
for St. Jerome renders it, per chorum.

52:2. They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: there is
none that doth good.

52:3. God looked down from heaven on the children of men: to see if
there were any that did understand, or did seek God.

52:4. All have gone aside, they are become unprofitable toegther, there
is none that doth good, no not one.

52:5. Shall not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people
as they eat bread?

52:6. They have not called upon God: there have they trembled for fear,
where there was no fear. For God hath scattered the bones of them that
please men: they have been confounded, because God hath despised them.

God hath scattered the bones, etc... That is, God has brought to nothing
the strength of all those that seek to please men, to the prejudice of
their duty to their Maker.

52:7. Who will give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when God shall
bring back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel
shall be glad.

Psalms Chapter 53

Deus, in nomine tuo.

A prayer for help in destress.

53:1. Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David.

53:2. When the en of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David hidden
with us? [1 Kings 23.19]

53:3. Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in th