Psalms 53
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm says that some people live as if there is no God. God looks down from the sky to see if anyone is looking for him. The psalm says people who hurt God's people will be afraid and put to shame. It ends with a wish that God would rescue Israel and bring his people home.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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.
1A foolish person says inside himself, "There is no God." People like that are rotten inside. They do terrible, wrong things. Not one of them does good.
2God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
2God looked down from the sky at all people. He wanted to see if anyone understood. He wanted to see if anyone was looking for him.
3Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
3Every single one of them has turned away. They have all gone bad together. Not one of them does good. No, not even one.
4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
4Do the people who do wrong never learn? They gobble up my people the way they eat bread. They never call out to God for help.
"Eat up my people as they eat bread" is a word picture. It means they hurt God's people easily, without even thinking about it.
5There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
5They were shaking with fear when there was nothing to be afraid of. God scattered the bones of the army that camped against you. You put them to shame, because God turned away from them.
6Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
6I wish rescue for Israel would come out of Zion! Zion is the hill in Jerusalem where God's house stood. When God brings his people home again, Jacob will be happy and Israel will be glad.
Jacob and Israel are two names for the same family. Jacob was the man, and Israel was the nation that came from him.
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