Psalms 53

1 [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.

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.

2 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.

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

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

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

4 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.

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

5 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.

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.

6 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.

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!