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David wrote this special song for the music leader. Use the music called Mahalath.

People are wicked[a]

53 A fool thinks that there is no God.
People like that are bad.
    They do evil things.
None of them does anything that is good.
God looks down from heaven
    at the people on earth.
He wants to see if there is anyone who is really wise
    and who wants to know God.
But they have all turned away.
    They have all become evil.
Nobody does anything that is good,
    not even one person.
People who do wicked things understand nothing.
They destroy my people
    as easily as they eat bread.
They never pray to God.
But now they are very afraid
    when there is nothing to be afraid of!
God has completely won against his enemies,
    the people that attack you, his people.
God has turned against them,
    so you are able to make them ashamed!
God, you are the one who saves your people, Israel!
Leave your home in Zion
    and make your people strong again!
When God blesses his people,
Jacob's descendants will sing!
    Yes, Israel's people will be very happy![b]

Footnotes

  1. 53:1 Psalm 53 is nearly the same as Psalm 14.
  2. 53:6 Jacob's descendants and Israel's people are names for God's people. God changed Jacob's name to be ‘Israel’.

Psalm 53[a](A)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.[b] A maskil[c] of David.

The fool(B) says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(C)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

God looks down from heaven(D)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(E)
    any who seek God.(F)
Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
    there is no one who does good,
    not even one.(G)

Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
    they never call on God.
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    where there was nothing to dread.(H)
God scattered the bones(I) of those who attacked you;(J)
    you put them to shame,(K) for God despised them.(L)

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
  2. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term