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: —

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Mahalath.” A contemplation by David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no 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 looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek 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 have become filthy together. There is no 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 iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t 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 they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has 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 the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.