There Is None Who Does Good

To the choirmaster: according to (A)Mahalath. A Maskil[a] of David.

53 (B)The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
    there is none who does good.

God looks down from heaven
    on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,[b]
    who seek after God.

They have all fallen away;
    together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
    not even one.

Have those who work evil no knowledge,
    who eat up my people as they eat bread,
    and do not call upon God?

There they are, in great terror,
    (C)where there is no terror!
For God (D)scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
    you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 53:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms
  2. Psalm 53:2 Or who act wisely

Psalm 53

To the Chief Musician; in a mournful strain. A skillful song, or didactic or reflective poem of David.

The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt and evil are they, and doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, who sought (inquired after and desperately required) God.

Every one of them has gone back [backslidden and fallen away]; they have altogether become filthy and corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.(A)

Have those who work evil no knowledge (no understanding)? They eat up My people as they eat bread; they do not call upon God.

There they are, in terror and dread, where there was [and had been] no terror and dread! For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; you have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.

Oh, that the salvation and deliverance of Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people, then will Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Psalm 53[a](A)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.[b] A maskil[c] of David.

The fool(B) says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(C)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

God looks down from heaven(D)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(E)
    any who seek God.(F)
Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
    there is no one who does good,
    not even one.(G)

Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
    they never call on God.
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    where there was nothing to dread.(H)
God scattered the bones(I) of those who attacked you;(J)
    you put them to shame,(K) for God despised them.(L)

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
  2. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

Psalm 53

Een lied van David, om iets van te leren. Op de wijs van 'Mahalat'. Voor de leider van het koor.

De dwaze mensen denken: 'Er is geen God.'
Ze doen vreselijke en verschrikkelijke dingen.
Er is niemand die iets goeds doet.
God kijkt vanuit de hemel omlaag naar de mensen.
Hij zoekt of er één mens nog verstandig is, één mens die naar Hem verlangt.
Maar er is niemand die leeft zoals Hij het wil.
Iedereen doet waar hij zelf zin in heeft.
Niemand doet iets goeds, helemaal niemand.
De Heer zegt:
"Is er dan helemaal niemand verstandig?
Ze doen zoveel kwaad!
Ze eten mijn volk op alsof het brood is.
Niemand van hen heeft ontzag voor Mij!"

Plotseling worden ze door angst overvallen,
terwijl er niets is om bang voor te zijn.
Maar God heeft hen bang gemaakt.
God jaagt je vijanden angst aan.
Ze vluchten voor je weg, want God heeft hen verlaten.

Kwam er van Sion maar redding voor Israël!
Als God de gevangenen van zijn volk weer terug laat komen,
dan zal het volk Israël weer blij zijn en juichen.