PSALMS 53

For the music director. According to Mahalath. A psalm (maskil) of David.[a]

1 Only fools tell themselves, “God doesn't exist.” They are completely immoral, they commit terrible sins, not a single one of them does anything good.

2 God watches from heaven to see if anyone understands, if anyone wants to come to God.

3 They have all fallen away, they are totally depraved; none of them does anything good, not even one.

4 “Won't these people who do evil ever learn? They consume my people as if they were eating bread, and refuse to pray to me.”[b]

5 They will become completely terrified, more frightened than they have ever been. God will scatter the bones of those who fight against you; you will defeat[c] them because God has rejected them.

6 If only God's salvation would come from Zion! When God restores[d] his people, the people of Jacob will celebrate, and the people of Israel will be glad.

a This psalm is almost identical to Psalms 14.
b These are clearly the words of God so are placed within quotes.
c Or “put them to shame.”
d The term used here is often applied to the return from Exile, but here would apply to the blessings the people would receive when they returned to God.