Psalm 53

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

3 All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

4 Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon God.

5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You put them to shame, for God has despised them.

6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

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Chapter summary

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The twin of Psalm 14, sounded again in Book II with 'Elohim' throughout: 'The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.' God looks down from heaven; every one of them is gone back, filthy together, 'no, not one' doing good, the double witness Paul gathers into Romans 3. One new note: 'God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee.' Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Poetry · David, Asaph, Sons of Korah, others — Psalms overview

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Psalms 143 verses
- Psalms 14:1The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
- Psalms 14:3All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
- Psalms 14:7Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!
- Read Psalms 14 →
Romans 32 verses
- Romans 3:10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.
- Romans 3:12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
- Read Romans 3 →
Psalms 101 verse
- Psalms 10:4In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
- Read Psalms 10 →
Isaiah 551 verse
- Isaiah 55:6Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
- Read Isaiah 55 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

2 Chronicles 151 verse
- 2 Chronicles 15:2So he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
- Read 2 Chronicles 15 →
Jeremiah 161 verse
- Jeremiah 16:17For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes.
- Read Jeremiah 16 →
Isaiah 641 verse
- Isaiah 64:6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
- Read Isaiah 64 →
Jeremiah 41 verse
- Jeremiah 4:22“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”
- Read Jeremiah 4 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.