Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 53תהלים 53

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 53 (7 verses in the MT) opens: Excel on Mahalath Maschil to. The middle of the chapter continues: All of it backslider together and there is not he did good there is not also one. It closes: Who would give Zion his salvation Israel and he returned God your captivity his people be glad Jacob and you shall rejoice Israel.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 53 comprises 7 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — Excel on Mahalath Maschil to. Excel on Mahalath Maschil to. He said foolish in his heart there is not God to destroy you shall abhor injustice there is not he did good. God the heavens which looks down on the sons of man to see is there you may prosper cares for God. All of it backslider together and there is not he did good there is not also one. Movement II (vv. 5-7) — Is it not have known did iniquity you shall eat my people ate bread God. Is it not have known did iniquity you shall eat my people ate bread God not and he called. There and you will dread the dread of you not was the dread of you for God and the bones of and they encamped were ashamed for God despise. Who would give Zion his salvation Israel and he returned God your captivity his people be glad Jacob and you shall rejoice. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל מָחֲלַ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד

Excel on Mahalath Maschil to.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'excel'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַexcelprep + art + Piel ptc ms · נָצַח (H5329)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorנָצַח (H5329) 'excel'.
עַֽלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
מָחֲלַ֗תMahalathN c · מַחֲלַת (H4257)Construct chain (genitival)מַחֲלַת (H4257) 'Mahalath'.
מַשְׂכִּ֥ילMaschilN c · מַשְׂכִּיל (H4905)Construct chain (genitival)מַשְׂכִּיל (H4905) 'Maschil'.
לְדָוִֽדtoprep + N proper · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'to'.
2

אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עָ֝֗וֶל אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה טֽוֹב

He said foolish in his heart there is not God to destroy you shall abhor injustice there is not he did good.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'he said'. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
אָ֘מַ֤רhe saidQal perf 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actאָמַר (H559) 'he said'.
נָבָ֣לfoolishAdj · נָבָל (H5036)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נָבָל (H5036) 'foolish'.
בְּ֭לִבּוֹin his heartprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · לֵב (H3820)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לֵב (H3820) 'in his heart'.
אֵ֣יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
אֱלֹהִ֑יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּto destroyHiphil perf 3cp · שָׁחַת (H7843)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁחַת (H7843) 'to destroy'.
וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּyou shall abhorconj וְ + Hiphil perf 3cp · תָּעַב (H8581)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actתָּעַב (H8581) 'you shall abhor'.
עָ֝֗וֶלinjusticeN c · עָוֶל (H5766)Construct chain (genitival)עָוֶל (H5766) 'injustice'.
אֵ֣יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
עֹֽשֵׂהhe didQal ptc ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
טֽוֹבgoodAdj · טוֹב (H2896)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוֹב (H2896) 'good'.
3

אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל בְּנֵ֫י אָדָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁ אֶת אֱלֹהִֽים

God the heavens which looks down on the sons of man to see is there you may prosper cares for God.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'which looks down'.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
אֱֽלֹהִ֗יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
מִשָּׁמַיִם֮the heavensprep + N com m pl abs · שָׁמַיִם (H8064)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שָׁמַיִם (H8064) 'the heavens'.
הִשְׁקִ֪יףwhich looks downHiphil perf 3ms · שָׁקַף (H8259)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁקַף (H8259) 'which looks down'.
עַֽלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
בְּנֵ֫יthe sons ofN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'the sons of'.
אָדָ֥םmanN c · אָדָם (H120)Construct chain (genitival)אָדָם (H120) 'man'.
לִ֭רְאוֹתto seeprep + Qal inf constr · רָאָה (H7200)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementרָאָה (H7200) 'to see'.
הֲיֵ֣שׁis thereinterrog. + adv. · יֵשׁ (H3426)Particle or relational elementיֵשׁ (H3426) 'is there'.
מַשְׂכִּ֑ילyou may prosperHiphil ptc ms · שָׂכַל (H7919)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorשָׂכַל (H7919) 'you may prosper'.
דֹּ֝רֵ֗שׁcares forQal ptc ms · דָּרַשׁ (H1875)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorדָּרַשׁ (H1875) 'cares for'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
אֱלֹהִֽיםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
4

כֻּלּ֥וֹ סָג֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה ט֑וֹב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם אֶחָֽד

All of it backslider together and there is not he did good there is not also one.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'backslider'.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
כֻּלּ֥וֹall of itN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all of it'.
סָג֮backsliderQal perf 3ms · סוּג (H5472)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actסוּג (H5472) 'backslider'.
יַחְדָּ֪וtogetherart · יַחְדָּו (H3162)Particle or relational elementיַחְדָּו (H3162) 'together'.
נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּandN · אָלַח (H444)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אָלַח (H444) 'and'.
אֵ֤יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
עֹֽשֵׂהhe didQal ptc ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
ט֑וֹבgoodAdj · טוֹב (H2896)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוֹב (H2896) 'good'.
אֵ֝֗יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
גַּםalsoparticle · גַּם (H1571)Particle or relational elementגַּם (H1571) 'also'.
אֶחָֽדoneAdj · אֶחָד (H259)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֶחָד (H259) 'one'.
5

הֲלֹ֥א יָדְעוּ֮ פֹּ֤עֲלֵ֫י אָ֥וֶן אֹכְלֵ֣י עַ֭מִּי אָ֣כְלוּ לֶ֑חֶם אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לֹ֣א קָרָֽאוּ

Is it not have known did iniquity you shall eat my people ate bread God not and he called.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'have known'.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
הֲלֹ֥אis it notinterrog. + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'is it not'.
יָדְעוּ֮have knownQal perf 3cp · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actיָדַע (H3045) 'have known'.
פֹּ֤עֲלֵ֫יdidQal ptc mp · פָּעַל (H6466)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorפָּעַל (H6466) 'did'.
אָ֥וֶןiniquityN c · אוֹן (H205)Construct chain (genitival)אוֹן (H205) 'iniquity'.
אֹכְלֵ֣יyou shall eatQal ptc mp · אָכַל (H398)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאָכַל (H398) 'you shall eat'.
עַ֭מִּיmy peopleN c · עַם (H5971)Construct chain (genitival)עַם (H5971) 'my people'.
אָ֣כְלוּateQal perf 3cp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actאָכַל (H398) 'ate'.
לֶ֑חֶםbreadN c · לֶחֶם (H3899)Construct chain (genitival)לֶחֶם (H3899) 'bread'.
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
לֹ֣אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
קָרָֽאוּand he calledQal perf 3cp · קָרָא (H7121)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actקָרָא (H7121) 'and he called'.
6

שָׁ֤ם פָּֽחֲדוּ פַחַד֮ לֹא הָ֪יָה֫ פָ֥חַד כִּֽי אֱלֹהִ֗ים פִּ֭זַּר עַצְמ֣וֹת חֹנָ֑ךְ הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָה כִּֽי אֱלֹהִ֥ים מְאָסָֽם

There and you will dread the dread of you not was the dread of you for God and the bones of and they encamped were ashamed for God despise.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and you will dread'.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
שָׁ֤םthereart · שָׁם (H8033)Particle or relational elementשָׁם (H8033) 'there'.
פָּֽחֲדוּand you will dreadQal perf 3cp · פָּחַד (H6342)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actפָּחַד (H6342) 'and you will dread'.
פַחַד֮the dread of youN c · פַּחַד (H6343)Construct chain (genitival)פַּחַד (H6343) 'the dread of you'.
לֹאnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
הָ֪יָה֫wasQal perf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actהָיָה (H1961) 'was'.
פָ֥חַדthe dread of youN c · פַּחַד (H6343)Construct chain (genitival)פַּחַד (H6343) 'the dread of you'.
כִּֽיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
אֱלֹהִ֗יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
פִּ֭זַּרandPiel perf 3ms · פָּזַר (H6340)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actפָּזַר (H6340) 'and'.
עַצְמ֣וֹתthe bones ofN c · עֶצֶם (H6106)Construct chain (genitival)עֶצֶם (H6106) 'the bones of'.
חֹנָ֑ךְand they encampedQal ptc ms + sfx 2fs · חָנָה (H2583)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorחָנָה (H2583) 'and they encamped'.
הֱ֝בִשֹׁ֗תָהwere ashamedHiphil perf 2ms · בּוּשׁ (H954)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actבּוּשׁ (H954) 'were ashamed'.
כִּֽיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
אֱלֹהִ֥יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
מְאָסָֽםdespiseQal perf 3ms + sfx 3mp · מָאַס (H3988)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actמָאַס (H3988) 'despise'.
7

מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשֻׁע֪וֹת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב אֱ֭לֹהִים שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Who would give Zion his salvation Israel and he returned God your captivity his people be glad Jacob and you shall rejoice Israel.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'would give'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
מִ֥יwhointerrog. · מִי (H4310)Particle or relational elementמִי (H4310) 'who'.
יִתֵּ֣ןwould giveQal impf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנָתַן (H5414) 'would give'.
מִצִּיּוֹן֮Zionprep + N proper · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
יְשֻׁע֪וֹתhis salvationN c · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Construct chain (genitival)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'his salvation'.
יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥לIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
בְּשׁ֣וּבand he returnedprep + Qal inf constr · שׁוּב (H7725)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementשׁוּב (H7725) 'and he returned'.
אֱ֭לֹהִיםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
שְׁב֣וּתyour captivityN c · שְׁבוּת (H7622)Construct chain (genitival)שְׁבוּת (H7622) 'your captivity'.
עַמּ֑וֹhis peopleN c · עַם (H5971)Construct chain (genitival)עַם (H5971) 'his people'.
יָגֵ֥לbe gladQal impf 3ms · גִּיל (H1523)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalגִּיל (H1523) 'be glad'.
יַ֝עֲקֹ֗בJacobN · יַעֲקֹב (H3290)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יַעֲקֹב (H3290) 'Jacob'.
יִשְׂמַ֥חand you shall rejoiceQal impf 3ms · שָׂמַח (H8055)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשָׂמַח (H8055) 'and you shall rejoice'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.