Psalms 52
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Psalms chapter 52 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
5 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint Augustine of Hippo. The translator's notes for this chapter (1) follow the text.
Psalms 52
1(53) For the end, a Psalm of David upon Maeleth, of instruction.Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ μαελὲθ συνέσεως τῷ Δαυίδ.
2The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, and become abominable in iniquities: there is none that does good.Εἶπεν ἄφρων ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἔστι Θεός· διέφθειραν, καὶ ἐβδελύχθησαν ἐν ἀνομίαις· οὐκ ἔστι ποιῶν ἀγαθόν.
3God looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any that understood, or sought after God.Ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ διέκυψεν ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, τοῦ ἰδεῖν εἰ ἔστι συνιῶν, ἢ ἐκζητῶν τὸν Θεόν.
4✡ They have all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, there is not even one.Πάντες ἐξέκλιναν, ἅμα ἠχρειώθησαν, οὐκ ἔστι ποιῶν ἀγαθὸν, οὐκ ἔστιν ἕως ἑνός.
5Will none of the workers of iniquity know, who devour my people as they would eat bread? they have not called upon God. There were they greatly afraid, where there was no fear:Οὐχὶ γνώσονται πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν, οἱ κατεσθίοντες τὸν λαόν μου βρώσει ἄρτου; τὸν Θεὸν οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο.
6or God has scattered the bones of the men-pleasers; they were ashamed, for God despised them.Ἐκεῖ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον, οὗ οὐκ ἦν φόβος· ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς διεσκόρπισεν ὀστᾶ ἀνθρωπαρέσκων, κατῃσχύνθησαν, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἐξουδένωσεν αὐτούς.
7Who will bring the salvation of Israel out of Sion? When the Lord turns the captivity of his people, Jacob shall exult, and Israel shall be glad.Τίς δώσει ἐκ Σιὼν τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Ἰσραήλ; ἐν τῷ ἀποστρέψαι Κύριον τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἀγαλλιάσεται Ἰακὼβ, καὶ εὐφρανθήσεται Ἰσραήλ.
Translator's Notes
These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.
- v. 3✡Rom 3:10-12
The Fathers on Psalms 52
Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Psalms 52:2Saint Augustine of Hippo2. “The unwise man hath said in his heart, There is no God” (ver. 1). Such sort is it of men amid whom is pained and groaneth the Body of Christ. If such is this sort of men, of not many do we travail; as far as seemeth to occur to our thoughts, very few there are; and a difficult thing it is to meet with a man that saith in his heart, “There is no God;” nevertheless, so few there are, that, fearing amid the many…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 52:2Saint Augustine of Hippo3. Let us advert also to that sense, which concerning Christ our Lord Himself, our Head Himself, doth present itself. For when Himself in form of a servant appeared on earth, they that crucified Him said, “He is not God.” Because Son of God He was, truly God He was. But they that are corrupted and have become abominable said what? “He is not God:” let us slay Him, “He is not God.” Thou hast the voice of these…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 52:3–4Saint Augustine of Hippo4. “The Lord from Heaven hath looked forth upon the sons of men, that He might see if there is one understanding and seeking after God” (ver. 3). What is this? “Corrupted they are,” all these that say, “There is no God”? And what? Did it escape God, that they were become such? Or indeed to us would their inward thought be opened, except by Him it were told? If then He understood, if then He knew, what is this…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 52:5Saint Augustine of Hippo6. “Shall not all know that work iniquity, that devour My people for the food of bread”? (ver. 5).…There is therefore here a people of God that is being devoured. Nay, “There is not one that doeth good, there is not so much as one.” We reply by the rule above. But this people that is devoured, this people that suffereth evil men, this that groaneth and travaileth amid evil men, now out of sons of men have been…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →
On Psalms 52:5, 7Open Psalms 52 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo8. For this reason what followeth concerning them? “There have they feared with fear, where there was no fear” (ver. 6). For is there fear, if a man lose riches? There is no fear there, and yet in that case men are afraid. But if a man lose wisdom, truly there is fear, and in that case he is not afraid.…Thou hast feared to give back money, and hast willed to lose fidelity. The Martyrs took not away property of…
Read Expositions on the Psalms →