Psalms 51:1-7

¹For the end, a Psalm of instruction by David,

²when Doec the Idumean came and told Saul, and said to him, David is gone to the house of Abimelech.

³Why dost thou, O mighty man, boast of iniquity in thy mischief? All the day

⁴thy tongue has devised unrighteousness; like a sharpened razor thou hast wrought deceit.

⁵Thou hast loved wickedness more than goodness; unrighteousness better than to speak righteousness. Pause.

⁶Thou hast loved all words of destruction, and a deceitful tongue.

⁷Therefore may God destroy thee for ever, may he pluck thee up and utterly remove thee from thy dwelling, and thy root from the land of the living. Pause.