Psalm 51: Overview

St Alphonsus Liguori commented:

This psalm, taken in a literal sense, shows us David reproaching Doeg, the Edomite, for having excited against him and against the priest Achimelech the anger of Saul, and for having thus caused the ruin of many others (i Kings, i. 22). In the mystical sense, Doeg represents all the wicked that persecute the good.

The text of the psalm

Vulgate	Douay-Rheims
In finem. Intellectus David, cum venit Doëg Idumæus, et nuntiavit Sauli : Venit David in domum Achimelech.	Unto the end, understanding for David, 2 when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul: David went to the house of Achimelech.
1 Quid gloriáris in malítia, * qui potens es in iniquitáte?	Why do you glory in malice, you that are mighty in iniquity?
2  Tota die injustítiam cogitávit lingua tua: * sicut novácula acúta fecísti dolum.	4 All the day long your tongue has devised injustice: as a sharp razor, you have wrought deceit.
3  Dilexísti malítiam super benignitátem: * iniquitátem magis quam loqui æquitátem.	5 You have loved malice more than goodness: and iniquity rather than to speak righteousness.
4  Dilexísti ómnia verba præcipitatiónis: * lingua dolósa.	6 You have loved all the words of ruin, O deceitful tongue.
5 Proptérea Deus déstruet te in finem, * evéllet te, et emigrábit te de tabernáculo tuo: et radícem tuam de terra vivéntium.	7 Therefore will God destroy you for ever: he will pluck you out, and remove you from your dwelling place: and your root out of the land of the living.
6  Vidébunt justi, et timébunt, et super eum ridébunt et dicent: *  Ecce homo, qui non pósuit Deum adjutórem suum:	8 The just shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, and say: 9 Behold the man that made not God his helper:
7  Sed sperávit in multitúdine divitiárum suárum: * et præváluit in vanitáte sua.	But trusted in the abundance of his riches: and prevailed in his vanity.
8  Ego autem, sicut olíva fructífera in domo Dei: * sperávi in misericórdia Dei in ætérnum : et in sæculum sæculi.	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.
9  Confitébor tibi in sæculum, quia fecísti: * et exspectábo nomen tuum, quóniam bonum est in conspéctu sanctórum tuórum.	11 I will praise you for ever, because you have done it: and I will wait on your name, for it is good in the sight of your saints.

Scriptural and liturgical uses of the psalm

NT references	Jn 3:19-20 (3)
RB cursus	Matins Tuesday I, 6
Monastic feasts etc	-
Responsories	-
Roman pre 1911	Tuesday Matins
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Wednesday Prime . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	IN 3, 10, 11 [Triplex 424]