top Psalm 52 (53)
Greek: Septuagint (LXX)
English: John Barach
Psalm 52 (53)

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Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ Μαελέθ· συνέσεως τῷ Δαυίδ. For the end; concerning Maeleth; of understanding; for David.
The Anatomy of the Fool
1 [MT=53:1] Εἶπεν ἄφρων ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἔστιν θεός. διεφθάρησαν καὶ ἐβδελύχθησαν ἐν ἀνομίαις, οὐκ ἔστιν ποιῶν ἀγαθόν. 2 [MT=53:2] ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ διέκυψεν ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τοῦ ἰδεῖν εἰ ἔστιν συνίων ἢ ἐκζητῶν τὸν θεόν. 3 [MT=53:3] πάντες ἐξέκλιναν, ἅμα ἠχρεώθησαν, οὐκ ἔστιν ποιῶν ἀγαθόν, οὐκ ἔστιν ἕως ἑνός. 52.1 [MT=53:1] The fool said in his heart, "There is no God." They have been corrupted and have become abominable in lawless deeds; there is no one who does good. 52.2 [MT=53:2] God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there is any who understands or seeks after God. 52.3 [MT=53:3] All have turned away; together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even so much as one.
The Judgment of the Oppressors
4 [MT=53:4] Οὐχὶ γνώσονται πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν; οἱ ἔσθοντες τὸν λαόν μου βρώσει ἄρτου τὸν θεὸν οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο. 5 [MT=53:5] ἐκεῖ φοβηθήσονται φόβον, οὗ οὐκ ἦν φόβος, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς διεσκόρπισεν ὀστᾶ ἀνθρωπαρέσκων· κατῃσχύνθησαν, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἐξουδένωσεν αὐτούς. 52.4 [MT=53:4] Will they not know—all those who work lawlessness? Those who devour my people as they eat bread have not called upon God. 52.5 [MT=53:5] There they shall be afraid with fear, where there was no fear; for God has scattered the bones of those who please men; they were put to shame, because God has brought them to nothing.
6 [MT=53:6] τίς δώσει ἐκ Σιὼν τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Ἰσραήλ; ἐν τῷ ἐπιστρέψαι κύριον τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀγαλλιάσεται Ἰακὼβ καὶ εὐφρανθήσεται Ἰσραήλ. 52.6 [MT=53:6] Who will give out of Zion the salvation of Israel? When the Lord turns back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall exult and Israel shall be glad.