Psalm 52

The general corruption of man before the coming of Christ.

Does this psalm differ from what you were expecting? Don't be confused. There are two systems for arranging the psalms: the Septuagint and the Masoretic. We use the Septuagint system here. In the Masoretic system, which is used in most modern Bible translations, this psalm is called Psalm 53, and the previous psalm is known as Psalm 52.

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Unto the end, for Maeleth, understandings to David.

The fool said in his heart: There is no God. Maeleth... Or Machalath. A musical instrument, or a chorus of musicians, for St. Jerome renders it, per chorum.
2 They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: there is none that doth good.
3 God looked down from heaven on the children of men: to see if there were any that did understand, or did seek God.
4 All have gone aside, they are become unprofitable together, there is none that doth good, no not one.
5 Shall not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people as they eat bread?
6 They have not called upon God: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear. For God hath scattered the bones of them that please men: they have been confounded, because God hath despised them. God hath scattered the bones, etc... That is, God has brought to nothing the strength of all those that seek to please men, to the prejudice of their duty to their Maker.
7 Who will give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when God shall bring back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 In finem, pro Maëleth intelligentiæ David.

Dixit insipiens in corde suo: Non est Deus.
2 Corrupti sunt, et abominabiles facti sunt in iniquitatibus;
non est qui faciat bonum.
3 Deus de cælo prospexit super filios hominum,
ut videat si est intelligens, aut requirens Deum.
4 Omnes declinaverunt; simul inutiles facti sunt:
non est qui faciat bonum, non est usque ad unum.
5 Nonne scient omnes qui operantur iniquitatem,
qui devorant plebem meam ut cibum panis?
6 Deum non invocaverunt;
illic trepidaverunt timore, ubi non erat timor.
Quoniam Deus dissipavit ossa eorum qui hominibus placent:
confusi sunt, quoniam Deus sprevit eos.
7 Quis dabit ex Sion salutare Israël?
cum converterit Deus captivitatem plebis suæ,
exsultabit Jacob, et lætabitur Israël.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition