Tehillim · Psalms
Tehillim Chapter 53
- Author:
- King David
- 7 verses
- Book Two
- Reading time:
- 1 min
- Day 9 of monthly cycle
Chapter 53 of Tehillim belongs to Book Two (chapters 42 through 72), and is traditionally attributed to King David. It contains 7 verses in vocalized Hebrew from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, paired with the JPS 1917 English translation (both public domain).
- לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־מָחֲלַ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃
- אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עָ֝֗וֶל אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה־טֽוֹב׃
- אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵ֫י אָדָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃
- כֻּלּ֥וֹ סָג֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם־אֶחָֽד׃
- הֲלֹ֥א יָדְעוּ֮ פֹּ֤עֲלֵ֫י אָ֥וֶן אֹכְלֵ֣י עַ֭מִּי אָ֣כְלוּ לֶ֑חֶם אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א קָרָֽאוּ׃
- שָׁ֤ם ׀ פָּֽחֲדוּ־פַחַד֮ לֹא־הָ֪יָה֫ פָ֥חַד כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֗ים פִּ֭זַּר עַצְמ֣וֹת חֹנָ֑ךְ הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָה כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים מְאָסָֽם׃
- מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשֻׁע֪וֹת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב אֱ֭לֹהִים שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
English translation (JPS 1917)
- For the Leader; upon Mahalath. Maschil of David.
- The fool hath said in his heart: 'There is no God'; They have dealt corruptly, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none that doeth good.
- God looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God.
- Every one of them is unclean, they are together become impure; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
- ’Shall not the workers of iniquity know it, Who eat up My people as they eat bread, And call not upon God?'
- There are 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 rejected them.
- Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God turneth the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Tehillim Chapter 53: questions and answers
Who wrote Tehillim chapter 53?
According to traditional Jewish attribution, chapter 53 was authored by King David. The book of Tehillim (Psalms) contains 150 chapters compiled by King David, including psalms by ten additional psalmists: Asaph, the sons of Korach, Moses, Heman, Ethan, and others.
How many verses does Psalm 53 have?
Psalm 53 contains 7 verses. The average unhurried reading time is about 1 minute.
Which of the Five Books of Psalms is chapter 53 in?
Chapter 53 belongs to Book Two (chapters 42 through 72). Parallel to Exodus of the Torah's five books.
When is Psalm 53 read in the 30-day cycle?
Following the traditional 30-day cycle for reading the entire Tehillim once a month, Psalm 53 is read on day 9.
Is the Hebrew text of Psalm 53 pointed (with nikud)?
Yes. The Hebrew text comes from the Westminster Leningrad Codex via the Sefaria public-domain project, including full nikud (vowel pointing) and ta'amei mikra (cantillation marks).
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