The Fool Says There Is No God
(Psalm 53:1–6; Isaiah 59:1–17; Romans 3:9–20)

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ (For the one directing). לְדָ֫וִ֥ד (Of David).

אָ֘מַ֤ר (Says) 1נָבָ֣ל (the fool) בְּ֭לִבּוֹ (in his heart),

אֵ֣ין (There is no) אֱלֹהִ֑ים (God).

הִֽשְׁחִ֗יתוּ (They are corrupt), הִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ (they have done abominable) עֲלִילָ֗ה (deeds),

אֵ֣ין (there is no one) עֹֽשֵׂה־ (doing) טֽוֹב׃ (good).

2  יְֽהוָ֗ה (YHWH) מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ (from the heavens) הִשְׁקִ֪יף (looks down)

עַֽל־ (upon) בְּנֵי־ (the sons) אָ֫דָ֥ם (of man),

לִ֭רְאוֹת (to see) הֲיֵ֣שׁ (is there) מַשְׂכִּ֑יל (one understanding),

דֹּ֝רֵשׁ (seeking) אֶת־ (-) אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (God).

3  הַכֹּ֥ל (All) סָר֮ (have turned aside),

יַחְדָּ֪ו (together) נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ (they have become corrupt);

אֵ֤ין (there is no one) עֹֽשֵׂה־ (doing) ט֑וֹב (good),

אֵ֝֗ין (not) גַּם־ (even) אֶחָֽד׃ (one).

4  הֲלֹ֥א (Not) יָדְעוּ֮ (have they known) כָּל־ (all those) פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫י (working) אָ֥וֶן (iniquity)?

אֹכְלֵ֣י (They devour) עַ֭מִּי (my people) אָ֣כְלוּ (they have eaten) לֶ֑חֶם (bread);

יְ֝הוָ֗ה (YHWH) לֹ֣א (not) קָרָֽאוּ׃ (they do call on).

5  שָׁ֤ם׀ (There) פָּ֣חֲדוּ (they tremble) פָ֑חַד (with dread),

כִּֽי־ (for) אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים (God) בְּד֣וֹר (is in the generation) צַדִּֽיק׃ (of the righteous).

6  עֲצַת־ (The counsel) עָנִ֥י (of the poor) תָבִ֑ישׁוּ (you⁺ have shamed),

כִּ֖י (for) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH is) מַחְסֵֽהוּ׃ (his place of refuge).

7  מִ֥י (Who) יִתֵּ֣ן (gives) מִצִּיּוֹן֮ (from Zion) יְשׁוּעַ֪ת (the salvation) יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל (of Israel)!

בְּשׁ֣וּב (In the turning back) יְ֭הוָה (in YHWH) שְׁב֣וּת (the captivity) עַמּ֑וֹ (of His people),

יָגֵ֥ל (let rejoice) יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב (Jacob) יִשְׂמַ֥ח (and be glad) יִשְׂרָֽאֵל׃ (Israel)!