Psalms 53

1 To the Chief Musician. On Mahalath. A Psalm of Instruction, of David. The impious hath said in his heart, There is no God! They have acted corruptly, They have wrought abominable perversity, There is none that doeth good: —

To the chief music-maker; put to Mahalath. Maschil. Of David. The foolish man has said in his heart, God will not do anything. They are unclean, they have done evil works; there is not one who does good.

2 God, out of the heavens, looked down upon the sons of men, —To see whether there was one that showed wisdom, Enquiring after God.

God was looking down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who had wisdom, searching after God.

3 They all, have turned back, together have they become tainted, —There is none that doeth good, Not so much as, one!

Every one of them has gone back; they are unclean: there is not one who does good, no, not one.

4 Are the workers of iniquity, without knowledge? Devouring my people, [as] they devour food? Upon God, have they not called.

Have the workers of evil no knowledge? they take my people for food, as they would take bread; they make no prayer to God.

5 There have they been in great dread where no dread was, Because, God, hath scattered the bones of thy besieger, —Thou hast put [him] to shame, Because, God, had, rejected, them.

They were in great fear, where there was no cause for fear: for the bones of those who make war on you have been broken by God; you have put them to shame, because God has no desire for them.

6 Oh that, out of Zion, were granted the salvations of Israel! When God bringeth back the captives of his people, Jacob, shall exult, Israel, shall be glad.

May the salvation of Israel come out of Zion! When the fate of his people is changed by God, Jacob will have joy, and Israel will be glad.