Psalm 53 is the 53rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 52. In Latin, it is known as "Dixit insipiens in corde suo non est deus",Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 52 / 53 medievalist.net It is described as a maskil or "contemplation of David".Sub-heading to in the New King James Version
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant liturgies.
Content This psalm is the Elohistic Psalter's (Pss. 42–83) version of Psalm 14,Jewish Publication Society (2014), "Psalms" (note on Psalm 53) in Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler (eds.), The Jewish Study Bible (second edition). New York: Oxford University Press, p. 1341 and nearly identical to it. The medieval exegete Rashi understood Psalm 14 to refer to the destruction of the First Temple; this version, he thought, refers to the destruction of the Second Temple.The Artscroll Tehillim, p. 110 Modern interpreters, following Hermann Gunkel's form criticism, classify this psalm as a lament."Out of the Depths: The Psalms Speak for us Today" by Bernhard W. Anderson and Steven Bishop, Westminster John Knox Press, 2000, p. 221
There are two differences between Psalms 14 and 53, the name of God used being the first. Psalm 14 uses the covenant name of God, YHWH, typical of the Psalms in book 1 of Psalms (Psalms 1 through 41). Psalm 53 uses Elohim, typical of the Psalms in Book 2 (Psalms 42 through 72). Second, there is reference to "a refuge for the poor" in Psalm 14:6, which is missing from Psalm 53.
Uses New Testament In the New Testament, verses 1–3 are quoted by Paul in Romans , where he argues that Jews and Gentiles are equally in need of God's grace. Since this Psalm and Psalm 14 are nearly identical, it is difficult to tell which one is quoted.
Book of Common Prayer In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the tenth day of the month.Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
Musical settings Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 53 in a metred version in German, "Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl", SWV 150, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.
Text The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 52. #HebrewEnglishGreek (To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.) 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. 5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them. 6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Notes
References
External links
Text of Psalm 53 according to the 1928 Psalter Psalms Chapter 53 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org For the leader; according to Mahalath. A maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Psalm 53:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com Psalm 53 – The Faithful God Delivers His People from Fools enduringword.com Psalm 53 / Refrain: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Church of England Psalm 53 at biblegateway.com Hymns for Psalm 53 hymnary.org