Psalms

Psalm 53:1–3

¹For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath.^a A Maskil^b of David.

The fool says in his heart,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt; their ways are vile.

There is no one who does good.

²God looks down from heaven

upon the sons of men

to see if any understand,

if any seek God.

³All have turned away,

they have together become corrupt;^c

there is no one who does good,

not even one.^d

Footnotes

a 53:1 Mahalathis probably a musical or liturgical term; see also Psalm 88:1|PSA 88:1.
b 53:1 Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.
c 53:3 LXX worthless
d 53:3 Cited in Romans 3:10–12|ROM 3:10-12

Read all of Psalm 53

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Psalm 53:1

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For the choirmaster	לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ	lam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥ	Preposition-l, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
According to	עַֽל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Mahalath	מָחֲלַ֗ת	mā·ḥă·laṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H4257 'Machalath'
A Maskil	מַשְׂכִּ֥יל	maś·kîl	Noun - masculine singular	H4905 contemplative poem
of David	לְדָוִֽד׃	lə·ḏā·wiḏ	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1732 David
The fool	נָבָ֣ל	nā·ḇāl	Adjective - masculine singular	H5036 foolish, senseless
says	אָ֘מַ֤ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
in his heart	בְּ֭לִבּוֹ	bə·lib·bōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
no	אֵ֣ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
God	אֱלֹהִ֑ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
They are corrupt	הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ	hiš·ḥî·ṯū	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural	H7843 go to ruin (?)
their ways	וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ	wə·hiṯ·‘î·ḇū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural	H8581 loathe, detest
are vile	עָ֝֗וֶל	‘ā·wel	Noun - masculine singular	H5766 injustice, unrighteousness
There is no	אֵ֣ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
one who does	עֹֽשֵׂה־	‘ō·śêh-	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H6213 do, make
good	טֽוֹב׃	ṭō·wḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good

Psalm 53:2

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
God	אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים	’ĕlō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
looks down	הִשְׁקִ֪יף	hiš·qîp̄	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H8259 overhang, look out and down
from heaven	מִשָּׁמַיִם֮	miš·šā·ma·yim	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine plural	H8064 sky, aloft
upon	עַֽל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the sons	בְּנֵ֫י	bə·nê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
of men	אָדָ֥ם	’ā·ḏām	Noun - masculine singular	H120 man, mankind
to see	לִ֭רְאוֹת	lir·’ō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7200 see
if any	הֲיֵ֣שׁ	hă·yêš	Adverb	H3426 being, substance, existence
understand	מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	maś·kîl	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H7919 be prudent
if any seek	דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ	dō·rêš	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H1875 resort to, seek
God	אֱלֹהִֽים׃	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God

Psalm 53:3

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
All	כֻּלּ֥וֹ	kul·lōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
have turned away	סָג֮	sāḡ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5472 move away, backslide
they have together	יַחְדָּ֪ו	yaḥ·dāw	Adverb	H3162 unitedness
become corrupt	נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ	ne·’ĕ·lā·ḥū	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural	H444 be corrupt
there is no	אֵ֤ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
one who does	עֹֽשֵׂה־	‘ō·śêh-	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct	H6213 do, make
good	ט֑וֹב	ṭō·wḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
not	אֵ֝֗ין	’ên	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
even	גַּם־	gam-	Conjunction	H1571 also, moreover, yea
one	אֶחָֽד׃	’e·ḥāḏ	Number - masculine singular	H259 one

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Psalm 53:1 Psalm 10:4 · Psalm 14:1–7 · Luke 12:20 · Romans 3:10–31 · Romans 1:28

Psalm 53:2 Isaiah 55:6 · 2 Chronicles 15:2 · Jeremiah 16:17 · Psalm 27:8 · Jeremiah 23:24 · Psalm 111:10 · Psalm 33:13–14 · 2 Chronicles 19:3 · Psalm 102:19 · 1 Chronicles 28:9 · Job 28:28 · Psalm 10:4

Psalm 53:3 Romans 3:12 · Isaiah 64:6 · Isaiah 53:6 · Psalm 14:3 · Jeremiah 8:5–6 · 3 John 1:11

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.