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Psalm 52:6
The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying,
4You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.
5God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
6The righteous also will see it, and fear, and laugh at him, saying,
7“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.”
8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
Notice
Fear and laughter meet as the righteous witness God destroy a deceitful man, a response that can unsettle your sense of what justice should feel like.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What troubles you about the righteous laughing at the man God has judged?
Write on thisHow does their fear shape your reading of their laughter at his misplaced trust?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 40:3He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.Both passages describe people seeing what God has done and responding with fear.
Job 22:19The righteous see it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,Both passages link what the righteous see with their laughter or ridicule.
Psalm 27:3Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.Fear appears in both passages, though one describes fear after judgment and the other confidence when facing war.
Psalm 107:42The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.Both passages describe the righteous or upright seeing what happens and responding with laughter or gladness.
Psalm 37:34Wait for the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.Both passages speak of seeing the wicked brought down by God's judgment.
Revelation 15:4Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have …Both passages connect fear with witnessing God's acts, with Revelation also naming worship.
Revelation 18:20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged your judgment on her.”Both passages connect a response of laughter or rejoicing with God's judgment against wrongdoing.
Isaiah 37:22this is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken …Both passages depict ridicule directed at someone opposed by God in the surrounding declaration.
Revelation 16:5–7I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, O Holy One, because you have judged these things.Both passages describe a spoken response to God's judgment, though Revelation's angel declares God's righteousness rather than laughing.
Malachi 1:5Your eyes will see, and you will say, “The LORD is great—even beyond the border of Israel!”Both passages link seeing with a spoken response that recognizes God's supremacy.
Revelation 19:1–2After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God;Both passages describe a spoken response to God, though Revelation names praise where the psalm names fear and laughter.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The laughter here follows God's judgment on a man who trusted wealth and wickedness. His strength fails before God, and even the righteous respond with fear.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).