Psalm 53

Psalms 53: Syllables: 167; Longest recitation: 8; Tenor: e 27.54%;
Ornament density: 15.8%; Average phrase length: 9.2.

Compare Psalm 14. Both psalms are heavy with tri-cola. This is part of the Elohist Psalter. Psalm 14 is part of the Yahwist Psalter. There are other differences in the melodic content.

1 For the leader. In illness. An insight of David. (1-1)
א למנצ֥ח עֽל־מחל֗ת משכ֥יל לדוֽד	13		a lmnxk yl-mklt mwcil ldvid
2 ♪~ Senseless said in its heart, God? Nothing. They destroy, they do abomination, injustice. There is none doing good. (~1-4-1)
ב א֘מ֤ר נב֣ל ב֭לבו א֣ין אלה֑ים הֽ֝שח֗יתו והֽתע֥יבו ע֝ול א֣ין עֽשה־טֽוב	11 13		b amr nbl blibo ain alohim hwkitu vhtyibu yvvl ain yowh-Tob
3 God from the heavens leaned over to have a look at the children of humanity, to see if there was any insight, searching out God. (1-2-4-1)
ג א‍ֽלה֗ים משמים֮ השק֪יף עֽל־בנ֫י־אד֥ם ל֭ראות הי֣ש משכ֑יל ד֝ר֗ש את־אלהֽים	11 6 6		g alohim mwmiim hwqif yl-bni-adm lraot hiw mwcil dorw at-alohim
4 Every one spineless, altogether corrupt. There is none doing good, not even a single one. (1-2-4-1)
ד כל֥ו סג֮ יחד֪ו נ֫אל֥חו א֤ין עֽשה־ט֑וב א֝֗ין גם־אחֽד	9 4 4		d culo sg ikdiv nalku ain yowh-Tob ain gm-akd
5 Did they not know, these workers of mischief, eating my people as they eat bread? God they do not call. (1-2-4-1)
ה הל֥א ידעו֮ פ֤על֫י־א֥ון אכל֣י ע֭מי א֣כלו ל֑חם א֝לה֗ים ל֣א קרֽאו	8 8 7		h hloa idyu poyli-avvn aocli ymi aclu lkm alohim la qrau
6 ♪C There they dread dread where dread is not there, because God scattered the bones of those armed against you. You shamed them, because God refused them. (C-1-2-4-1)
ו ש֤ם פ֥חדו פחד֮ לא־ה֪יה֫־פ֥חד כֽי־אלה֗ים פ֭זר עצמ֣ות חנ֑ך ה֝בש֗תה כֽי־אלה֥ים מאסֽם	10 9 10		v wm pkdu pkd la-hih-pkd ci-alohim pizr yxmot konç hbiwot ci-alohim masm
7 ♪f When will the salvation of Israel be given from Zion? When God turns the captivity of his people, Jacob will rejoice. Israel will be glad. (~1-2-4-1)
ז מ֥י ית֣ן מציון֮ ישע֪ות ישר֫א֥ל בש֣וב א֭להים שב֣ות עמ֑ו יג֥ל י֝עק֗ב ישמ֥ח ישראֽל	12 9 10		z mi iitn mxion iwuyot iwral bwub alohim wbut ymo igl iyqob iwmk iwral

The music in these posts is derived from the accents in the Hebrew Bible. Introductions - letters, music, text and music, and terminology, are here.