Psalms 53

1 To the Overseer. — 'On a disease.' — An instruction, by David. A fool said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They have done corruptly, Yea, they have done abominable iniquity, There is none doing good.

For the chief musician; set to Mahalath. A maschil of David. A fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity; there is no one who does good.

2 God from the heavens looked on the sons of men, To see if there be an understanding one, [One] seeking God.

God looks down from heaven on the children of mankind to see if there are any who understand, who seek after him.

3 Every one went back, together they became filthy, There is none doing good — not even one.

They have all turned away. Together they have become corrupt. There is not one who does good, not even one.

4 Have not workers of iniquity known, Those eating my people have eaten bread, God they have not called.

Do those who commit iniquity have no understanding— those who devour my people as if they were eating bread and they do not call on God?

5 There they feared a fear — there was no fear, For God hath scattered the bones of him Who is encamping against thee, Thou hast put to shame, For God hath despised them.

They were in great fear, although no reason to fear was there; for God will scatter the bones of whoever will camp against you; such people will be put to shame because God has rejected them.

6 Who doth give from Zion the salvation of Israel? When God turneth back [to] a captivity of His people, Jacob doth rejoice — Israel is glad!

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When God brings back his people from the captivity, then Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad!