Psalms

Psalm 53:1–6

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

⁴Will the workers of iniquity never learn?

They devour my people like bread;

they refuse to call upon God.

⁵There they are, overwhelmed with dread,

where there was nothing to fear.

For God has scattered the bones

of those who besieged you.

You put them to shame,

for God has despised them.

⁶Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!

When God restores His captive people,^e

let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

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
e 53:6 Or the fortunes of His people

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

Psalm 53:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Will the workers	פֹּ֤עֲלֵ֫י	pō·‘ă·lê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H6466 do, make
of iniquity	אָ֥וֶן	’ā·wen	Noun - masculine singular	H205 trouble, sorrow, wickedness
never	הֲלֹ֥א	hă·lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
learn	יָדְעוּ֮	yā·ḏə·‘ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3045 know
They devour	אֹכְלֵ֣י	’ō·ḵə·lê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H398 eat
my people	עַ֭מִּי	‘am·mî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H5971 people
bread	לֶ֑חֶם	le·ḥem	Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food
they refuse	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to call	קָרָֽאוּ׃	qā·rā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H7121 call, proclaim, read
upon God	אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God

Psalm 53:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
There they are	שָׁ֤ם׀	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
overwhelmed	פָּֽחֲדוּ־	pā·ḥă·ḏū-	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6342 dread, be in dread, in awe
with dread	פַחַד֮	p̄a·ḥaḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H6343 dread
there was	הָ֪יָה֫	hā·yāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
nothing	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
to fear	פָ֥חַד	p̄ā·ḥaḏ	Noun - masculine singular	H6343 dread
For	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
God	אֱלֹהִ֗ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
has scattered	פִּ֭זַּר	piz·zar	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6340 scatter
the bones	עַצְמ֣וֹת	‘aṣ·mō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H6106 bone, substance, self
of those who besieged you	חֹנָ֑ךְ	ḥō·nāḵ	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H2583 decline, bend down, encamp
You put them to shame	הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָה	hĕ·ḇi·šō·ṯāh	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H954 be ashamed
for	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
God	אֱלֹהִ֥ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
has despised them	מְאָסָֽם׃	mə·’ā·sām	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine plural	H3988 reject

Psalm 53:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Oh	מִ֥י	mî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4310 who?
that	מִ֥י	mî	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4310 who?
the salvation	יְשֻׁע֪וֹת	yə·šu·‘ō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural construct	H3444 salvation
of Israel	יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
would come	יִתֵּ֣ן	yit·tên	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
from Zion	מִצִּיּוֹן֮	miṣ·ṣî·yō·wn	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6726 Zion
When God	אֱ֭לֹהִים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
restores	בְּשׁ֣וּב	bə·šūḇ	Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7725 turn back, return
His captive	שְׁב֣וּת	šə·ḇūṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H7622 exile, prisoners, former state of prosperity
people	עַמּ֑וֹ	‘am·mōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H5971 people
let Jacob	יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב	ya·‘ă·qōḇ	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3290 Jacob
rejoice	יָגֵ֥ל	yā·ḡêl	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular	H1523 rejoice
let Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
be glad	יִשְׂמַ֥ח	yiś·maḥ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8055 rejoice, be glad