The Bible — World English Bible
Psalm 53
In brief
Psalm 53 is a maskil of David that repeats Psalm 14 with a few variations. It opens with a famous statement: the fool says in his heart that there is no God. The fool is not someone who lacks intelligence, but someone who lives as if God did not exist. The psalm describes a humanity that has gone astray, where God looks and finds no one seeking him. It announces the downfall of those who devour his people, then ends with a cry of hope: may deliverance come out of Zion. Paul quotes verses from it in Romans 3.
The chapter in 4 parts
1The 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.
2God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.
3Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God?
5There 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.
6Oh 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.
Key verses
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.
The word fool here describes someone who lives without taking God into account. The text says this happens in his heart: rejecting God often begins as an inner choice before it becomes an idea.
God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.
God is not a distant spectator. He looks, and he searches for someone who is searching for him. He is the one who takes the initiative of the meeting.
Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
The verdict is severe and universal: not even one. Paul takes it up in Romans 3 to show that everyone needs grace.
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.
The psalm does not end in despair. It waits for a deliverance that comes from God, and it looks ahead to the joy of Jacob and Israel when the captives return.
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Psalm 53
What does it mean that the fool says in his heart there is no God?
In the Bible, the fool is not someone of low intelligence. He is someone who acts as if God did not exist or did not see anything. The verse speaks of the heart: it describes a direction in life, an inner refusal, more than a debate of ideas. It invites each of us to check whether we really take God into account in our choices.
What is the difference between Psalm 53 and Psalm 14?
The two psalms are almost identical. Psalm 53 uses the name God (Elohim) where Psalm 14 uses the LORD, and its verse 5 is reworded: God scatters the bones of those who camp against his people. Having both in the collection underlines how important the message is.
Who wrote Psalm 53?
The title credits David and presents it as a maskil, to be sung to the flute, given to the chief musician. The text does not tie the psalm to a specific event in his life. The apostle Paul quotes parts of it in Romans 3 to say that all people need salvation.
Articles quoting Psalm 53
World English Bible translation — public domain.