Psalms 53

1 For the music director. According to Mahalath. A psalm (maskil) of David. Only fools tell themselves, “God doesn't exist.” They are completely immoral, they commit terrible sins, not a single one of them does anything good.

“To the chief musician upon Machalath, a Maskil of David.” The worthless fool saith in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, and they are abominable [in their] injustice: there is none that doth good.

2 God watches from heaven to see if anyone understands, if anyone wants to come to God.

God looketh down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be one intelligent, one who seeketh for God.

3 They have all fallen away, they are totally depraved; none of them does anything good, not even one.

Every one [of them] hath departed [from righteousness]; altogether are they become corrupt: there is none that doth good, no, not one.

4 “Won't these people who do evil ever learn? They consume my people as if they were eating bread, and refuse to pray to me.”

Is there no knowledge in the workers of wickedness? who eat up my people as they eat bread: [while] they do not call on God.

5 They will become completely terrified, more frightened than they have ever been. God will scatter the bones of those who fight against you; you will defeat them because God has rejected them.

There were they terrified with terror where there was no terror; for God had scattered the bones of those that encamped against thee: thou didst put them to shame, because God had rejected them.

6 If only God's salvation would come from Zion! When God restores his people, the people of Jacob will celebrate, and the people of Israel will be glad.

Oh that some one might bring the salvation of Israel out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, [then] will Jacob be glad, [and] Israel will rejoice.