Psalm 53-54

Common English Bible

Psalm 53

For the music leader, according to the mahalath. A maskil^[a] of David.

53 Fools say in their hearts, There’s no God.
They are corrupt and do horrible deeds;
not one of them does anything good.

²God looks down from heaven on humans
    to see if anyone is wise,
    to see if anyone seeks God.
³But all have turned away.
    Everyone is corrupt.
    No one does good—
    not even one person!

⁴Are they dumb—these evildoers—
devouring my people like they are eating bread
but never calling on God?

⁵There, where there was nothing to fear,
    they will be in utter panic
    because God will scatter the bones
        of those who attacked you.
You will put them to shame
    because God has rejected them.

⁶Let Israel’s salvation come out of Zion!
    When God changes
    his people’s circumstances for the better,
        Jacob will rejoice;
        Israel will celebrate!

Psalm 54

For the music leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil^[b] of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Isn’t David hiding among us?”

54 God! Save me by your name;
defend me by your might!
²God! Hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth!

³The proud have come up against me;
violent people want me dead.
They pay no attention to God. Selah

⁴But look here: God is my helper;
my Lord sustains my life.
⁵He will bring disaster on my opponents.
By your faithfulness, God, destroy them!

⁶I will sacrifice to you freely;
    I will give thanks to your name, Lord,
        because it’s so good,
⁷        and because God has delivered me
        from every distress.
    My eyes have seen my enemies’ defeat.^[c]