Psalm 53
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Psalm 53
Denunciation of Godlessness
To the leader: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt; they commit abominable acts;
there is no one who does good.(A)
2 God looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.(B)
3 They have all fallen away; they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.(C)
4 Have they no knowledge, those evildoers,
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon God?(D)
5 There they shall be in great terror,
in terror such as has not been.
For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly;[a]
they will be put to shame,[b] for God has rejected them.(E)
6 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.(F)
Psalm 53
International Standard Version
To the Director: Upon machalath.[a] A Davidic instruction.[b]
The Fool and God’s Response
53 Fools say to themselves “There is no God.”
They are corrupt and commit iniquity;
not one of them practices what is good.
2 God looks down from the heavens upon humanity[c]
to see if anyone shows discernment as he searches for God.
3 All of them[d] have fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
no one does what is good, not even one.
4 Will those who do evil ever learn?
They devour my people like they devour bread,
and never call on God.
5 There the Israelis[e] were seized with terror,
when there was nothing to fear.
For God scattered the bones of those who laid siege against you[f]—
you put them to shame,[g]
for God rejected them.
6 Would that Israel’s deliverance come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.[h]
Footnotes
- Psalm 53:1 A Heb. musical term
- Psalm 53:1 Lit. maskil
- Psalm 53:2 Lit. upon the sons of Adam
- Psalm 53:3 So MT; DSS 4QPsa lack of them
- Psalm 53:5 Lit. they
- Psalm 53:5 So MT DSS 4QPsa; LXX reads of men pleasers
- Psalm 53:5 So MT DSS 4QPsa; LXX reads they were put to shame
- Psalm 53:6 Cf. Ps 14:1-7
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