Focused Passage

Psalms 53:1-3

The Fool's Corruption and the Hope of Zion's Salvation

Inner denial, universal corruption, predatory oppression, divine judgment, Zion-centered salvation, and restored covenant joy.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

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

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

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

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Psalms 14BSB references Isaiah 59BSB references Romans 3:9BSB references Romans 3:10Classic cross-references Jeremiah 17:9Classic cross-references Psalms 14:1Classic cross-references Psalms 10:4Classic cross-references Psalms 32:1Classic cross-references

Original words

The foolנָבָ֣לH5036Adjective - masculine singularsaysאָ֘מַ֤רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularin his heartבְּ֭לִבּוֹH3820Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular[There is] noאֵ֣יןH369AdverbGodאֱלֹהִ֑יםH430Noun - masculine pluralThey are corruptהִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּH7843Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluraltheir waysוְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּH8581Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralare vileעָ֝֗וֶלH5766Noun - masculine singularThere is noאֵ֣יןH369Adverbone who doesעֹֽשֵׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructgoodטֽוֹב׃H2896Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

Mahalath is probably a musical or liturgical term; see also Psalm 88:1.
Maskil is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.

Verse 2

Cross-references

Romans 3:11Classic cross-references Genesis 6:5Classic cross-references Isaiah 55:6Classic cross-references Genesis 6:12Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 15:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Godאֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗יםH430Noun - masculine plurallooks downהִשְׁקִ֪יףH8259Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularfrom heavenמִשָּׁמַיִם֮H8064Preposition-m | Noun - masculine pluraluponעַֽל־H5921Prepositionthe sonsבְּנֵ֫יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof menאָדָ֥םH120Noun - masculine singularto seeלִ֭רְאוֹתH7200Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructif anyהֲיֵ֣שׁH3426Adverbunderstandמַשְׂכִּ֑ילH7919Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularif any seekדֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁH1875Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerGodאֱלֹהִֽים׃H430Noun - masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

Romans 3:12Classic cross-references Isaiah 64:6Classic cross-references Isaiah 53:6Classic cross-references Psalms 14:3Classic cross-references Jeremiah 8:5Classic cross-references

Original words

Allכֻּלּ֥וֹH3605Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularhave turned awayסָג֮H5472Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthey have togetherיַחְדָּ֪וH3162Adverbbecome corruptנֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּH444Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralthere is noאֵ֤יןH369Adverbone who doesעֹֽשֵׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructgoodט֑וֹבH2896Noun - masculine singularnotאֵ֝֗יןH369Adverbevenגַּם־H1571Conjunctiononeאֶחָֽד׃H259Number - masculine singular

BSB notes

LXX worthless
Cited in Romans 3:10–12

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