Strangers. Barbarous, (Worthington) enemies, though of the same tribe. (Calmet) --- Hostis dicebatur quem nunc peregrinum dicimus. (Cicero, Off. i.) --- The devil and our passions, as well as the world, are such to us. (Berthier) read more
Of the Corruption and Salvation of Men. To the chief musician, for use in the liturgical part of public worship, upon Mahalath, in a sorrowful manner, agreeing with the general tone of the hymn, Maschil, a didactic poem, a psalm of David. This psalm, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was evidently recast from Psalms 14, probably for a special occasion, and was for that reason included in the Psalter for the second time. Cf Psalms 14 for the general explanation. v. 1. The fool hath said... read more
Psalms 53:0To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity:There is none that doeth good.2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men,To see if there were any that did understand,That did seek God.3 Every one of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy.There is none that doeth good,No, not one.4 Have the workers of iniquity no... read more
Sinners All-God Alone Can Help Psalms 53:1-6 ; Psalms 54:1-7 That Psalms 53:1-6 should be a repetition of Psalms 14:1-7 , with very few variations, suggests, as does the “verily, verily” of Christ, that the truths contained in these words are worthy of special attention. They supply the Apostle, in Romans 3:1-31 , with his phraseology for describing the state of the ungodly before the searching eye of Omniscience. We have here a photograph of the human heart. Jew and Gentile are alike in... read more
This psalm, with slight variations, is found in the first book ( Psa 14:1-7 ). Its introduction a second time necessarily leads us to notice the differences. In all probability the editor incorporated it into this book because of these very changes. They are, first, the substitution of "God" for "Jehovah four times. Perhaps the change was made for liturgical use in some special circumstances, in which the desire was to express praise of God as the wonder-working God. All that was true of... read more
THE FOLLY OF ATHEISM‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God,’ etc.Psalms 53:1-Exodus :There seems to be something intentionally emphatic about the charge against the atheist in the text, as though the wickedness of a man in saying, ‘There is no God,’ were lost in the folly of it, as though when David heard a man sneeringly remark that there was no God he forgot for a moment the man’s sensuality and licentiousness in his astonishment at his weakness. I. Suppose a man to say... read more
Heading (Psalms 53:1 a). Psalms 53:1 ‘For the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath. Maschil of David.’ The Psalm is once again dedicated to the Choirmaster or Chief Musician, and is set to the tune of Mahalath (which possibly means ‘sickness’, and may be the opening word of another Psalm for which this tune was first composed. Or it may be a mournful tune bewailing the sickness of mankind in his sins). It is again a Maschil of David. This last may refer to the original Psalm and not to the... read more
God Expresses His Surprise At The Inability Of The Nations To Recognise That Israel/Judah Are His People (Psalms 53:4 ) Psalms 53:4 ‘Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on God?’ God is perplexed at the folly of men. He cannot believe that they are so lacking in wisdom and common sense. Do they have no knowledge and understanding? Do they not recognise that those who are in covenant with Him are His people? They neither call on God... read more
In Their Folly The Nations Have Invaded Israel/Judah And, Being Rejected By God, Have Been Utterly Defeated (Psalms 53:5 ). Psalms 53:5 ‘There were they 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 rejected them.’ Apart from the first clause this verse is totally different in meaning from Psalms 14:5-6. Clearly it has been adapted to a new situation, an invasion that failed, even though the... read more
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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:3
Name, which is a strong tower, (Proverbs xviii. 10.; Calmet) event thyself. Hence it is so criminal to take it in vain. (Berthier) --- Judge. Ancient psalters have, "deliver." Saul and the Zipheans persecute me unjustly. I commit my cause to thee. (Haydock) --- Defend me for the justice of my cause. (Worthington) read more