Psalms 53–6
Psalm 53:1-6
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Psa.53.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- מחלת: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- משכיל: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 14:1 (verbal): Nearly identical wording and content — both open with the formula 'The fool says in his heart,
Alternative generated candidates
- To the choirmaster. On Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
- To the choirmaster. On Mahalath. A Maskil of David.
Psa.53.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בלבו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- אין: PART,neg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- השחיתו: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,pl
- והתעיבו: VERB,hitpael,perf,3,pl
- עול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ps.14:1 (verbal): Nearly identical wording: both open with “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’” affirming the same condemnation of those who deny God.
- Rom.3:10-12 (quotation): Paul explicitly cites the Psalm (summarizing Ps.14/53) to argue universal sinfulness: “None is righteous… no one seeks God.”
- Ps.36:1 (thematic): Speaks of the wicked’s inner disposition toward God—‘there is no fear of God before his eyes’—echoing the heart’s denial and moral corruption in Ps.53:2.
- Prov.1:7 (thematic): Contrasts the proper ‘fear of the LORD’ as the start of wisdom with fools who despise instruction; thematically related to the fool’s denial of God in Ps.53:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt; they have committed abominable deeds—there is none who does good.
- The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt; they have done abominable deeds—there is none who does good.
Psa.53.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- א: PRT
- להים: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- משמים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- השקיף: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לראות: VERB,qal,inf
- היש: PART,exist
- משכיל: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- דרש: VERB,qal,ptc,ms,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 14:2 (quotation): Nearly identical wording; Psalm 53 is a close parallel/replication of Psalm 14, both saying God looks from heaven to see if anyone understands or seeks God.
- Psalm 33:13-15 (verbal): Uses similar language—'The LORD looks from heaven; he sees all the children of man'—emphasizing God's observation of humanity and knowledge of their deeds.
- Proverbs 15:3 (thematic): Shows the same theme of divine surveillance: 'The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good,' paralleling God's looking from heaven.
- Job 34:21 (thematic): Speaks of God's eyes on human ways and steps—a thematic echo about God's attentive observation of human conduct.
- 1 Chronicles 28:9 (allusion): Affirms that God searches hearts and knows those who seek him, corresponding to the Psalm's concern with whether anyone truly 'seeks God.'
Alternative generated candidates
- God looks down from heaven upon the children of man, to see if there is any who is wise, who seeks God.
- God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there is any who is discerning, who seeks God.
Psa.53.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- סג: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl,-
- יחדו: ADV
- נאלחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אין: PART,neg
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- גם: ADV
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 14:4 (verbal): Nearly identical wording — Psalm 53 is a close duplicate of Psalm 14; both ask whether evildoers have no knowledge, devour God’s people, and do not call on God.
- Romans 3:10-12 (quotation): Paul quotes the language of the Psalms (14/53) about universal sinfulness — 'None is righteous...no one seeks God' — echoing the idea that none call upon God.
- Psalm 10:4 (thematic): Speaks of the wicked who 'will not seek God' and whose thoughts exclude God, paralleling Psalm 53:4’s depiction of those who do not call on God.
- Isaiah 59:4 (thematic): Describes a society where people do not plead for justice or call on God and instead rely on falsehood and iniquity — similar portrayal of moral failure and failure to seek God.
Alternative generated candidates
- They have all turned aside; together they are corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
- They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Psa.53.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הלא: PART
- ידעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- פעלי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- און: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אכלי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- עמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- אכלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- קראו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Ps.14:4 (verbal): Nearly identical verse in Psalm 14: same accusation that workers of iniquity ‘eat up my people as they eat bread’ and do not call on God — a direct verbal parallel/duplication.
- Micah 3:3 (verbal): Uses close imagery of leaders eating the flesh of God’s people and exploiting them (’they eat the flesh of my people’), echoing the violent, consumptive metaphor of Ps 53:5.
- Ezekiel 22:27 (thematic): Speaks of princes/wolves who tear the prey and shed blood, portraying rulers who prey on the people — thematically parallel to wicked doers who ‘eat up my people.’
- Jeremiah 5:27-28 (thematic): Condemns the powerful who are ‘become fat’ and ‘know not to do right,’ failing the people and showing moral ignorance like the psalm’s ‘workers of iniquity’ who do not call on God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do the workers of iniquity have no knowledge? They devour my people as they eat bread; they do not call upon God.
- Do the workers of evil have no understanding? Those who devour my people eat them as one eats bread; they do not call upon God.
Psa.53.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שם: ADV
- פחדו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- פחד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- פחד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- פזר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עצמות: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- חנך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הבשתה: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מאסם: VERB,piel,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 14:7 (quotation): Psalm 53 is nearly identical to Psalm 14; v.6 in both books is virtually the same line expressing the wish that salvation come out of Zion and that Jacob/Israel rejoice.
- Isaiah 51:11 (thematic): Speaks of the redeemed returning to Zion with singing and everlasting joy—echoes the Psalm's hope for salvation from Zion and the people's rejoicing.
- Jeremiah 31:7-12 (thematic): Promises restoration and gathering of Israel, turning mourning into joy and causing the people to rejoice—parallels the Psalm's theme of national restoration and gladness.
- Deuteronomy 30:3-5 (structural): Covenantal promise that God will restore the exiles and bring them back to the land; provides the theological background for the Psalmist's longing for salvation and return from Zion.
Alternative generated candidates
- There they were seized with dread—no fear was there; for God has scattered the bones of those who encamp against you. You have put them to shame; for God has rejected them.
- There they were seized with fear—yet there was no fear; for God has scattered the bones of those who encamped against you. You have put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
To the choirmaster. A Maskil of David.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; they have done abominable deeds—there is none who does good.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of mankind to see if there were any who understood, who sought God.
All have turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Do the workers of evil know nothing—those who devour my people as men eat bread—and do not call upon God?
Oh that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.