Psalms 53

1 For the leader. On mahalath. A maskil of David. Fools say in their heart, “There is no God.” Vile, hateful their life is; not one does good.

[Only] foolish people say to themselves, “There is no God!” People who say that are corrupt; they commit terrible sins; there is not one of them who does what is good/right.

2 From heaven God looks out on humans, to see if any are wise, and care for God.

God looks down from heaven and sees humans; he looks to see if anyone is [very] wise, with the result that he seeks [to know] God.

3 But all have turned bad, the taint is on all; not one does good, no, not one.

[But] they are all morally corrupt; no one does what is good/right.

4 Have they learned their lesson, those workers of evil? Who ate up my people, eating, devouring, never calling to the Lord.

Will all these evil people never learn [what God will do to them]? They act violently toward Yahweh’s people while eating the food that he provides, and they never pray to Yahweh.

5 Sore afraid will they be, where no fear was; when God scatters the bones of the godless people. They will be put to shame, when God rejects them.

But [some day] those people will become terrified, like they have never been terrified before, because God will cause those who are separated from him to die, and he will [disrespect them by] scattering their bones. They have rejected God, so he will cause them to be [defeated and] completely disgraced.

6 If only help from Zion would come for Israel! When God brings his people a change of fortune, how glad will be Jacob, and Israel how joyful!

I wish/desire that someone from Jerusalem [MTY] would come and rescue the Israeli [people]! God, when you bless your people again, [all] the Israeli [people, all the descendants of] Jacob, will rejoice.