Psalm 53

Modern

Literal

The Fool Says There Is No God

¹For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath.^a A Maskil^b of David.

The fool says in his heart,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt; their ways are vile.

There is no one who does good.

¹For the one directing. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and have done abominable injustice; there is no one doing good.

²God looks down from heaven

upon the sons of men

to see if any understand,

if any seek God.

²God looks down from the heavens upon the sons of man, to see: Is there one acting wisely, seeking God?

³All have turned away,

they have together become corrupt;^a

there is no one who does good,

not even one.^b

³All have turned back, together they have become corrupt; there is no one doing good, not even one.

⁴Will the workers of iniquity never learn?

They devour my people like bread;

they refuse to call upon God.

⁴Will they not learn, the workers of iniquity, those devouring my people they have devoured bread; they do not call upon God.

⁵There they are, overwhelmed with dread,

where there was nothing to fear.

For God has scattered the bones

of those who besieged you.

You put them to shame,

for God has despised them.

⁵There they feared a fear—there was no fear. For God scattered the bones of the one setting camp against you; you have put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

⁶Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!

When God restores His captive people,^a

let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

⁶Who will give from Zion the salvation of Israel? God, in turning back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice; let Israel be glad!