Psalm 52
1You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness *
against the godly all day long?
2You plot ruin;
your tongue is like a sharpened razor, *
O worker of deception.
3You love evil more than good *
and lying more than speaking the truth.
4You love all words that hurt, *
O you deceitful tongue.
5Oh, that God would demolish you utterly, *
topple you, and snatch you from your dwelling,
and root you out of the land of the living!
6The righteous shall see and tremble, *
and they shall laugh at him, saying,
7″This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, *
but trusted in great wealth
and relied upon wickedness.”
8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *
I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
9I will give you thanks for what you have done *
and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence
of the godly.
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Image Credit: Women Picking Olives, Vincent van Gogh, 1889
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Open Access Collection – https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436536
