Psalm 53 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 53[a](A)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.[b] A maskil[c] of David.

1 The fool(B) says in his heart,
“There is no God.”(C)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven(D)
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(E)
any who seek God.(F)
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.(G)

4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.(H)
God scattered the bones(I) of those who attacked you;(J)
you put them to shame,(K) for God despised them.(L)

6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
  2. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

Cross references

  1. Psalm 53:1 : 53:1-6pp — Ps 14:1-7
  2. Psalm 53:1 : Ps 74:22; 107:17; Pr 10:23
  3. Psalm 53:1 : Ps 10:4
  4. Psalm 53:2 : S Ps 33:13
  5. Psalm 53:2 : Ps 82:5; Jer 4:22; 8:8
  6. Psalm 53:2 : 2Ch 15:2
  7. Psalm 53:3 : Ro 3:10-12*
  8. Psalm 53:5 : S Lev 26:17
  9. Psalm 53:5 : 2Ki 23:14; Ps 141:7; Jer 8:1; Eze 6:5
  10. Psalm 53:5 : 2Ki 17:20
  11. Psalm 53:5 : S Job 8:22
  12. Psalm 53:5 : Jer 6:30; 14:19; La 5:22