Psalm 53: The Fool Hath Said, There Is No God
A short psalm on universal corruption and the longed-for salvation of Israel.
Psalm 53 opens with the blunt line, 'The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,' describing people as corrupt and abominable in their iniquity. It largely parallels Psalm 14, and follows the olive-tree confidence of Psalms 52.
For the Leader; upon Mahalath. Maschil of David.
The fool hath said in his heart: 'There is no G-d'; they have dealt corruptly, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none that doeth good.
G-d looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after G-d.
Every one of them is unclean, they are together become impure; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
'Shall not the workers of iniquity know it, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and call not upon G-d?'
There are they in great fear, where no fear was; for G-d hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee; Thou hast put them to shame, because G-d hath rejected them.
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When G-d turneth the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.