Psalms 53 (YLT)

Chapter Text

53:1 To the Overseer. --`On a disease.' --An instruction, by David. A fool said in his heart, `There is no God.' They have done corruptly, Yea, they have done abominable iniquity, There is none doing good.

53:2 God from the heavens looked on the sons of men, To see if there be an understanding one, <FI>One<Fi> seeking God.

53:3 Every one went back, together they became filthy, There is none doing good--not even one.

53:4 Have not workers of iniquity known, Those eating my people have eaten bread, God they have not called.

53:5 There they feared a fear--there was no fear, For God hath scattered the bones of him Who is encamping against thee, Thou hast put to shame, For God hath despised them.

53:6 Who doth give from Zion the salvation of Israel? When God turneth back <FI>to<Fi> a captivity of His people, Jacob doth rejoice--Israel is glad!

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called", "overseer", "disease", "instruction", "david", "fool", "said", and "heart". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "overseer", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local YLT text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "called" and "overseer" carries the first interpretive weight. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "called" and "overseer" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.