Corpus Psalterium · Vol. III
Psalm LIII (53)
Cantillated — Declarative Stability
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 53 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Mahalath.” A contemplation by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־מָחֲלַ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good.
אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עָ֝֗וֶל אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה־טֽוֹב׃
God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.
אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵ֫י אָדָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
כֻּלּ֥וֹ סָג֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם־אֶחָֽד׃
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God?
הֲלֹ֥א יָדְעוּ֮ פֹּ֤עֲלֵ֫י אָ֥וֶן אֹכְלֵ֣י עַ֭מִּי אָ֣כְלוּ לֶ֑חֶם אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א קָרָֽאוּ׃
There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.
שָׁ֤ם ׀ פָּֽחֲדוּ־פַחַד֮ לֹא־הָ֪יָה֫ פָ֥חַד כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֗ים פִּ֭זַּר עַצְמ֣וֹת חֹנָ֑ךְ הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָה כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים מְאָסָֽם׃
Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשֻׁע֪וֹת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב אֱ֭לֹהִים שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
The fool says in his heart
There is no God
They are corrupt
They do what is vile
No one does good
God looks down
from heaven
on the children of man
To see if there is one
who understands
One who seeks God
All have fallen away
together corrupted
No one does good
Not even one
Do they not know
those who do evil
Who devour my people
as they eat bread
They do not call on God
No one does good
No one does good
Not even one
Not even one
No one does good
No one does good
Not even one
There they are
in great fear
where there was no fear
For God scatters
the bones
of those who rise against Him
They are put to shame
For God rejects them
God has spoken
God has seen
Nothing is hidden
before Him
No one does good
No one does good
Not even one
Not even one
No one does good
No one does good
Not even one
Oh that salvation
would come from Zion
Oh that salvation
would come from Zion
When God restores
His people
Jacob will rejoice
Israel will be glad
Restore Your people
Restore Your people
Restore Your people
God will restore
God will restore
He will restore
His people
God will restore
God will restore
He will restore
His people
Jacob will rejoice
Israel will be glad
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.