Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
- BSB “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.”
- NKJV “Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
- NASB “Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.”
- NLT “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The righteous identify the fallen man as one who trusted riches and wickedness instead of God. It warns that misplaced trust leads to ruin.
Overview
The onlookers draw the lesson: this man made wealth and evil his refuge rather than God. His downfall exposes the folly of trusting anything but the Lord. The verse echoes the wider biblical warning that riches cannot save and that security is found only in God (Proverbs 11:28; 1 Timothy 6:17).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Jer 17:5Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
- Eccl 8:8There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
- Ps 49:6–20They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
- Ps 73:18–20Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
- Job 31:24–25If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
- John 19:5Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
- 1 Tim 6:17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- Isa 14:16–17They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
- Ps 146:3–5Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
- Ps 62:9–10Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
- Hos 12:7–8He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
- Ps 73:7–11Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 52:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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