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 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, out of the heavens, looked down upon the sons of men, —To see whether there was one that showed wisdom, Enquiring after 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 all, have turned back, together have they become tainted, —There is none that doeth good, Not so much as, one!

Every one [of them] hath departed [from righteousness]; altogether are they become corrupt: there is none that doth 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.

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 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 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 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 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.