Christian prayer
Psalm 53
Psalm 53 in its original text and with its meaning, reflecting on human wrongdoing and the hope of God's deliverance.
- 6 verses
- Under a minute to recite
- From the Bible
- 1
To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
- 2
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
- 3
Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
- 4
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
- 5
There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
- 6
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
The Hebrew original
1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־מָחֲלַ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃
2 אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עָ֝֗וֶל אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה־טֽוֹב׃
3 אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵ֫י אָדָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
4 כֻּלּ֥וֹ סָג֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם־אֶחָֽד׃
5 הֲלֹ֥א יָדְעוּ֮ פֹּ֤עֲלֵ֫י אָ֥וֶן אֹכְלֵ֣י עַ֭מִּי אָ֣כְלוּ לֶ֑חֶם אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א קָרָֽאוּ׃
6 שָׁ֤ם ׀ פָּֽחֲדוּ־פַחַד֮ לֹא־הָ֪יָה֫ פָ֥חַד כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֗ים פִּ֭זַּר עַצְמ֣וֹת חֹנָ֑ךְ הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָה כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים מְאָסָֽם׃
7 מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשֻׁע֪וֹת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב אֱ֭לֹהִים שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here
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When it is prayed
Many Christians recite Psalm 53 during personal prayer or reflection on sin and the need for God's mercy. It can also be read when praying about injustice or longing for deliverance. In the Christian tradition, its searching words invite self-examination rather than condemnation of others.
Where it comes from
Psalm 53 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, a collection inherited by Christians from ancient Israel's worship. Its heading associates it with David. The psalm describes humanity's turning away from God and closes with a longing for Israel's restoration.
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Related prayers and texts
- ChristianPsalm 91A biblical psalm of trust in God’s shelter and protection amid danger.
- ChristianPsalm 23A biblical psalm of trust in God, pictured as a caring shepherd and generous host.
- ChristianPsalm 121A biblical psalm of trust in God as the keeper of those who look to him for help.
- ChristianPsalm 35A biblical psalm asking God for protection, justice and deliverance from enemies.
Questions about Psalm 53
How many verses are in Psalm 53?
Psalm 53 has 6 verses.
What does Psalm 53 mean?
It describes the folly of rejecting God and the spread of human wrongdoing. Its closing prayer expresses hope that God will deliver and restore his people.
Who wrote Psalm 53?
Its heading associates it with David, and it is traditionally regarded as a psalm of David.
How long does it take to recite?
Psalm 53 takes under a minute to recite, though a slow, reflective reading may take longer.
What language was Psalm 53 written in?
Psalm 53 was written in Hebrew, the language of most of the Old Testament.
