Psalms

Psalm 53:1

1For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath.a A Maskilb 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.

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.

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.

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
For the choirmasterלַמְנַצֵּ֥חַlam·naṣ·ṣê·aḥPreposition-l, Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularH5329 be pre-eminent, enduring
According toעַֽל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Mahalathמָחֲלַ֗תmā·ḥă·laṯNoun - feminine singularH4257 'Machalath'
A Maskilמַשְׂכִּ֥ילmaś·kîlNoun - masculine singularH4905 contemplative poem
of Davidלְדָוִֽד׃lə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
The foolנָבָ֣לnā·ḇālAdjective - masculine singularH5036 foolish, senseless
saysאָ֘מַ֤ר’ā·marVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
in his heartבְּ֭לִבּוֹbə·lib·bōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3820 inner man, mind, will, heart
noאֵ֣ין’ênAdverbH369 nothing, nought
Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
They are corruptהִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּhiš·ḥî·ṯūVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralH7843 go to ruin (?)
their waysוְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּwə·hiṯ·‘î·ḇūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralH8581 loathe, detest
are vileעָ֝֗וֶל‘ā·welNoun - masculine singularH5766 injustice, unrighteousness
There is noאֵ֣ין’ênAdverbH369 nothing, nought
one who doesעֹֽשֵׂה־‘ō·śêh-Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructH6213 do, make
goodטֽוֹב׃ṭō·wḇNoun - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good

Cross-references

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

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

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.