Psalms 53

0For the director, according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

The Fool Says There Is No God

1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They have acted corruptly and committed abominable injustice; there is none who does good.

2God looked down from heaven upon the sons of man to see whether there is anyone who acts wisely, who seeks God.

3Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good—no, not even one.

4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who devour my people? They eat bread; they do not call upon God.

5There they were in great dread, where there had been no dread; for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

6Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

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Cross-references in this chapter

Where this passage connects across Scripture — each link typed and reasoned, part of the AIT Bible Nexus Chart.

The Fool Says There Is No God

• quotation Romans 3:10 — Paul quotes this psalm's declaration that no one does good, not even one, in his catena on universal sinfulness.
• quoted by Romans 3:9 — Parallel psalm to Ps 14 quoted here declaring none who does good.
• parallel 1 Samuel 23:19 — The superscription refers to the same event: the Ziphites reporting David's hiding place to Saul.
• parallel 1 Samuel 26:1 — Second report of the Ziphites informing Saul of David's whereabouts matches this psalm's heading.
• parallel Psalms 14:1 — Psalm 53 is a near-duplicate of Psalm 14, sharing almost identical wording throughout (the classic Ps 14 // Ps 53 doublet).
• parallel Psalms 14:7 — Identical closing prayer for salvation from Zion and restoration of God's people, matching Psalm 14's ending.