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 Musician. On Mahalath: an instruction. Of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God! They have corrupted themselves, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth 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 looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek 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 is gone back, they are together become corrupt: there is none that doeth good, not even 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 iniquity no knowledge, eating up my people [as] they eat bread? they call not upon 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.

There were they in great fear, where no fear was; for God scattereth the bones of him that encampeth against thee. Thou hast put [them] to shame, for God hath despised 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.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.