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Psalm 53
New King James Version

### Folly of the Godless, and the Restoration of Israel(A)

#### To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath.” A [a]Contemplation of David.

53 The (B)fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
(C)There is none who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who (D)seek God.
3 Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

4 Have the workers of iniquity (E)no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon God?
5 (F)There they are in great fear
Where no fear was,
For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;
You have put them to shame,
Because God has despised them.

6 (G)Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God brings back [b]the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

#### Footnotes

1. Psalm 53:1 Heb. Maschil
2. Psalm 53:6 Or His captive people

#### Cross references

1. Psalm 53:1 : Ps. 14:1–7
2. Psalm 53:1 : Ps. 10:4
3. Psalm 53:1 : Rom. 3:10–12
4. Psalm 53:2 : [2 Chr. 15:2]
5. Psalm 53:4 : Jer. 4:22
6. Psalm 53:5 : Lev. 26:17, 36; Prov. 28:1
7. Psalm 53:6 : Ps. 14:7

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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