Psalm 53

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director: on Mahalath. ^a A Maskil of David.

¹The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”

They are corrupt, and they do vile deeds.

There is no one who does good. ^b

²God looks down from heaven on the human race ^c

to see if there is one who is wise,

one who seeks God. ^d

³All have turned away;

all alike have become corrupt.

There is no one who does good,

not even one. ^e

⁴Will evildoers never understand?

They consume my people as they consume bread; ^f

they do not call on God. ^g

⁵Then they will be filled with dread —

dread like no other ^h —

because God will scatter

the bones of those who besiege you. ⁱ

You will put them to shame,

for God has rejected them. ^j

⁶Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!

When God restores the fortunes of his people, ^k

let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. ^l