Psalm 53

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director: on Mahalath. A Davidic Maskil.

1 The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist."
They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.

3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.

4 Will evildoers never understand?
They consume My people as they consume bread;
they do not call on God.

5 Then they will be filled with terror-
terror like no other-
because God will scatter
the bones of those who besiege you.
You will put them to shame,
for God has rejected them.

6 Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of His people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

Psalm 53

1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none that doeth good.

2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

3 Every one of them is gone back; they are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.

4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And call not upon God?

5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was; For God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: Thou hast put them to shame, because of God hath rejected them.

6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.