Psalm 52


Psalm 52 is the 52nd psalm from the Book of Psalms.
It is attributed to David. In it, he is criticizing those who use their talents for evil. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 51 in a slightly different numbering system.

Latin division

The psalm begins the second section of the three traditional divisions of the Latin psalms, and for this reason the first words and above all the initial "Q" is often greatly enlarged in illuminated manuscript psalters, following the pattern of the Beatus initials at the start of Psalm 1, and the "D" of Psalm 102.

Psalm Form

According to Hermann Gunkel's system of classification, Psalm 52 was conditionally classified as an Individual Psalm of Trust, one that demonstrates an expression of trust or confidence in YHWH's assistant to the petitioner.