Psalm 53

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 53:1

The fool hath said in his heart - The whole of this Psalm, except a few inconsiderable differences, is the same as the fourteenth; and, therefore, the same notes and analysis may be applied to it; or, by referring to the fourteenth, the reader will find the subject of it amply explained. I shall add a few short notes. Have done abominable iniquity - Instead of עול avel , evil or iniquity, eight of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. have עלילה alilah , work, which is nearly the same... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 53:4

Have the workers of iniquity - For פעלי , poaley , workers seventy-two of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., with several ancient editions, the Chaldee, though not noticed in the Latin translation in the London Polyglot, the Syriac, Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and the Arabic, with the Anglo-Saxon, add the word כל col , all, - All the workers of iniquity; which is the reading in the parallel place in Psalm 14:1-7 ; : It may be necessary to observe, that the Chaldee, in the Antwerp... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 53:5

For God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them - The reader will see, on comparing this with the fifth and sixth verses of Psalm 14:1-7 , that the words above are mostly added here to what is said there; and appear to be levelled against the Babylonians, who sacked and ruined Jerusalem, and who were now sacked and ruined in their turn. The sixth verse of Psalm 14:1-7 , "Ye have shamed the counsel of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 53:6

O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! - I have already shown that the proper translation is, "Who shall give from Zion salvation to Israel?" The word salvation is in the plural here, deliverances: but many MSS., with the Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, and Anglo-Saxon, have it in the singular. When God brinyeth back - When Jehovah bringeth back, is the reading of more than twenty of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., with the Septuagint, Syriac, and Chaldee, and Justinianus'... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:1-2

Atheism contrasted with godliness. I. ATHEISM . "No God." This implies: 1 . Denial of God ' s existence This is folly. The assertion proves nothing. Negatives are not arguments. Besides, there may be a God, though you, the denier, have not found him. You have not yet explored the universe. 2 . Denial of God ' s moral government of the world. "No God!" if so, then there is nothing but chance. There can be no law without a lawgiver, no order without a controlling mind.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:1-6

The expression, "upon Mahalath," or, "set to Mahalath," in the title, is thought to be a musical direction, and is explained by Dr. Kay as equivalent to the modern Maestoso. Psalms 53:1 and Psalms 53:2 are identical with the same verses of Psalms 14:1-7 ; with the single exception that "Jehovah "is replaced by" Elohim," as the first word of Psalms 14:2 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:3

For "they are all gone aside" ( הכּל סר ) in Psalms 14:1-7 ; the present psalm has, "every one of them is gone back" ( לּכּוֹ סג )—a difference which may be due to corruption, and which is, at any rate, of no importance. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:4

For "the workers of iniquity" in this verse, Psalms 14:1-7 . has "all the workers of iniquity "—a difference wholly unimportant. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:5

There were they in great fear, where no fear was . So long a phrase as "where no fear was" ( לא־היה כּחד ) can scarcely have "fallen out," and must have been added intentionally to mark that, on the occasion in connection with which the revision was made, there had been no ground at all for the panic. For God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee . This clause takes the place of the following in Psalms 14:1-7 .: "For God is in the generation of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 53:6

This verse is identical with Psalms 14:7 , except in the substitution of "Elohim" for "Jehovah," and in the pointing of one word. read more

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