uW Translation Notes:

Psalm 52 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

Psalm 52 is a specific kind of psalm of supplication, an “imprecatory psalm” in which the psalmist describes the actions of wicked people and asks God to judge and punish them. See the discussion of the types of psalms in the introduction to the book of Psalms. 1. Description of Doeg’s wickedness (1–4) 2. Declaration that God will punish Doeg (5–7) 3. David’s statement of his confidence in God (8–9)The superscription to this psalm identifies it as a “maskil.” See the discussion of that term in the introduction to Psalms.As its superscription indicates, the background to this psalm is an episode related in [1 Samuel 22:6–23](../1sa/22/06.md), in which Doeg the Edomite, one of King Saul’s officers, killed Yahweh’s priests and their families. It may be helpful to read that episode before translating this psalm.

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

לַ⁠מְנַצֵּ֗חַ

(Some words not found in UHB: to,choirmaster maskil of,David when,came Doʼēg the,Edomite and,he_told to,Saul and=he/it_said to=him/it he/it_came Dāvid to/towards house_of ʼAḩīmelek )

The word translated as chief musician likely refers to the person in charge of music for worship. Some languages may have a term for a music leader. See how you translated the term “chief musician” in the superscription to Psalm 4. Alternate translation: [For the leader of worship music] or [For the music director]

Note 2 topic: translate-transliterate

מַשְׂכִּ֥יל

(Some words not found in UHB: to,choirmaster maskil of,David when,came Doʼēg the,Edomite and,he_told to,Saul and=he/it_said to=him/it he/it_came Dāvid to/towards house_of ʼAḩīmelek )

The superscription to this psalm identifies it as a maskil. Since the meaning of this word is not certain, you may wish to represent it in its Hebrew form and spell it the way it sounds in your language. See the discussion of that term in the Introduction to Psalms.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

בְּ⁠ב֤וֹא ׀ דּוֹאֵ֣ג הָ⁠אֲדֹמִי֮ וַ⁠יַּגֵּ֪ד לְ⁠שָׁ֫א֥וּל וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֑⁠וֹ בָּ֥א דָ֝וִ֗ד אֶל־בֵּ֥ית אֲחִימֶֽלֶךְ

(Some words not found in UHB: to,choirmaster maskil of,David when,came Doʼēg the,Edomite and,he_told to,Saul and=he/it_said to=him/it he/it_came Dāvid to/towards house_of ʼAḩīmelek )

This superscription is referring to events related in [1 Samuel 22:6–23](../1sa/22/06.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could describe these events more fully. Alternate translation: [David wrote this song when Doeg the Edomite, an officer of King Saul, came and told Saul that David, whom Saul was trying to kill, had gone to the high priest Ahimelech and that he had received help from him]

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֑⁠וֹ

(Some words not found in UHB: to,choirmaster maskil of,David when,came Doʼēg the,Edomite and,he_told to,Saul and=he/it_said to=him/it he/it_came Dāvid to/towards house_of ʼAḩīmelek )

This phrase introduces a direct quotation. In your translation, use a natural way of introducing direct quotations in your language. It may not be necessary to represent this phrase explicitly.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ⁠דָוִֽד׃ בְּ⁠ב֤וֹא ׀ דּוֹאֵ֣ג הָ⁠אֲדֹמִי֮ וַ⁠יַּגֵּ֪ד לְ⁠שָׁ֫א֥וּל וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֑⁠וֹ בָּ֥א דָ֝וִ֗ד אֶל־בֵּ֥ית אֲחִימֶֽלֶךְ

(Some words not found in UHB: to,choirmaster maskil of,David when,came Doʼēg the,Edomite and,he_told to,Saul and=he/it_said to=him/it he/it_came Dāvid to/towards house_of ʼAḩīmelek )

This superscription is referring to events related in [1 Samuel 23:19–23](../1sa/23/19.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could describe these events more fully. Alternate translation: [This is a maskil that David wrote when he was hiding in the wilderness of Ziph from King Saul, who wanted to kill him, and the people who lived there went and told Saul that he was hiding among them]