Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

Psalm 53
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References

Psalm 53:superscription

*
“Mahalath.” Heb., ma·chalathʹ; probably a musical term, perhaps one of a technical nature.
*
“Maskil.” See 32:Sup ftn.

+Ps 88:superscription

Research Guide

Insight, Volume 2, p. 295

New World Translation, pp. 1703-1704
Publications Index
it-2 295; nwt 1703-1704

Psalm 53:1

*
One of eight scribal changes from YHWH to ʼElo·himʹ. See App 1B.

+Ps 10:4; 14:1; 92:6; Ro 1:21
+Ge 6:11; Le 18:30; De 32:5
+Ps 14:3; Ro 3:10

Research Guide

The Watchtower,
6/1/2006, p. 10
10/1/1997, pp. 6-7
Publications Index
w06 6/1 10; w97 10/1 6-7;

tf 25; w42 4; wl 81; w41 339, 345

Psalm 53:2

*
“God,” MTVg; in the parallel text in 14:2, “Jehovah.”
*
“Having insight.” Or, “acting with discretion.” Heb., mas·kilʹ. Compare 32:Sup ftn.
*
One of eight scribal changes from YHWH to ʼElo·himʹ; T and 14:2, “Jehovah”; MLXXVg, “God.” See App 1B.

+Ps 8:4; 11:4; 33:14; 102:19; Jer 16:17; 23:24
+1Ch 28:9; 2Ch 15:2; 19:3; Job 28:28; Isa 55:6; 1Pe 3:12

Psalm 53:3

+Ge 6:5; Isa 53:6; Jer 8:6; Zep 1:6
+Ge 6:12; Ps 12:1; 14:3; Ec 7:20; Ro 3:12

Psalm 53:4

*
One of eight scribal changes from YHWH to ʼElo·himʹ; T, some Heb. mss and 14:4, “Jehovah”; MLXXSyVg, “God.” See App 1B.

+Pr 1:29; Jer 4:22; Ho 4:1
+Ps 27:2; Jer 10:25
+Job 21:14; Ps 14:4

Psalm 53:5

*
Lit., “they dreaded a dread.”
*
“God,” MLXXVg; two Heb. mss, “Jehovah.”
*
One of eight scribal changes from YHWH to ʼElo·himʹ; T, “Jehovah.” See App 1B.

+1Sa 14:15; 2Ki 7:6; Ps 14:5
+Le 26:17, 36; Pr 28:1
+Eze 6:5
+2Ki 17:20; Ps 35:4; Jer 6:30

Psalm 53:6

*
One of eight scribal changes from YHWH to ʼElo·himʹ; TLXXSy, many Heb. mss and 14:7, “Jehovah.” See App 1B.
*
Or, “returns with.”

+Ps 20:2; Isa 12:6
+Ps 85:1; 126:1; Jer 30:18; Joe 3:1; Am 9:14
+Ezr 3:11; Ne 12:43

Parallel Translations

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General

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References

Psalm 53:1-6

Psalm

To the director over Maʹha·lath.*+ Masʹkil.* Of David.

53 The senseless one has said in his heart:

“There is no Jehovah.”*+

They have acted ruinously and have acted detestably in unrighteousness;+

There is no one doing good.+

2 As for God,* he has looked down from heaven itself upon the sons of men,+

To see whether there exists anyone having insight,* anyone seeking Jehovah.*+

3 They have all of them turned back, they are [all] alike corrupt;+

There is no one doing good,+

Not even one.

4 Have none of the practicers of what is hurtful got knowledge,+

Eating up my people as they have eaten bread?+

They have not called even upon Jehovah.*+

5 There they were filled with a great dread,*+

Where there had proved to be no dread;+

For God* himself will certainly scatter the bones of anyone camping against you.+

You will certainly put [them] to shame, for Jehovah* himself has rejected them.+

6 O that out of Zion there were the grand salvation of Israel!+

When Jehovah* gathers back* the captive ones of his people,+

Let Jacob be joyful, let Israel rejoice.+