Psalms 53:1
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. | For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good. | For the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath. Maschil 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. |
In context
Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the choirmaster | לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ | lam-na-TZE-ach | H5329 | to conductנָצַח (na.tsach) 1) to excel, be bright, be preeminent, be perpetual, be overseer, be enduring 1a) (Niphal) enduring (participle) 1b) (Piel) to act as overseer or superintendent or director or chief Aramaic equivalent: ne.tsach (נְצַח "to distinguish oneself" H5330) |
| on | עַֽל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| Mahalath | מָחֲלַ֗ת | ma-cha-LAT | H4257 | Mahalathמַחֲלַת (ma.cha.lat) Mahalath found in headings of Ps 53:1 and Ps 81:1 meaning uncertain, probably a catchword in a song giving name to tune |
| a poem | מַשְׂכִּ֥יל | mas-KIL | H4905 | Maskilמַשְׂכִּיל (mas.kil) (Hiphil) poem, song or poem of contemplation |
| of David | לְדָוִֽד׃ | le-da-VID | H1732 | Davidדָּוִד (da.vid) A king of the tribe of Judah living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at Rut.4.17; son of: Jesse (H3448) and Nahash (H5176I); brother of: Eliab (H0446I), Abinadab (H0041I), Shimeah (H8093), Zeruiah (H6870), Abigail (H0026H)(?), Nethanel (H5417H), Raddai (H7288), Ozem (H0684) and Elihu (H0453J); married to Michal (H4324), Abigail (H0026), Ahinoam (H0293H), Maacah (H4601I), Haggith (H2294), Abital (H0037), Eglah (H5698) and Bathsheba (H1339); … |
| he says | אָ֘מַ֤ר | 'a-MAR | H0559 | to sayאָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560) |
| a fool | נָבָ֣ל | na-VAL | H5036 | foolishנָבָל (na.val) foolish, senseless, fool |
| in heart his | בְּ֭לִבּוֹ | be-li-bo | H3820A | mindבָּל (bal) mind, heart Aramaic of lev (לֵב "heart" H3820A) |
| there not | אֵ֣ין | 'ein | H0369 | nothingאַ֫יִן (a.yin) 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of |
| [is] a god | אֱלֹהִ֑ים | 'E-lo-HIM | H0430G | Godאֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| they act corruptly | הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ | hish-CHI-tu | H7843 | to ruinשָׁחַת (sha.chat) 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay 1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to spoil, ruin 1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy 1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally) 1c3) destroyer (participle) 1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle) Aramaic equivalent: she.chat (שְׁחַת "to corrupt" H7844) |
| and they act abominably | וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ | ve-hit-'I-vu | H8581 | to loatheתָּאַב (ta.av) (Piel) to loathe, abhor Another spelling of ta.av (תַּעָב "to abhor" H8581) |
| unrighteousness | עָ֝֗וֶל | 'A-vel | H5766A | injusticeעָ֫וֶל (e.vel) injustice, unrighteousness Another spelling of av.lah (עַוְלָה "injustice" H5766B) |
| there not | אֵ֣ין | 'ein | H0369 | nothingאַ֫יִן (a.yin) 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of |
| [is one who] does | עֹֽשֵׂה־ | 'o-seh- | H6213A | to make: doעָשָׂה (a.sah) : do/perform 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made |
| of good | טֽוֹב׃ | Tov | H2896B | goodטוֹב (tov) 1) a good thing, benefit, welfare 1a) welfare, prosperity, happiness 1b) good things (collective) 1c) good, benefit 1d) moral good |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.