Henry Ainsworth on Psalms 53

PSAL. LIII.

To the master of the musicke on Machalath, an instructing Psalme of David.

THe foole saith in his heart there is no God: they have corrupted, and have made themselves abominable with injurious evill; there is none that doth good.

God from the heavens looked downe upon the sonnes of Adam, to see if there were any that understandeth, that seeketh God. Every one is gone backe, together they are become unprofitable: there is none that doth good, none, not one. Doe they not know, that worke painfull iniquitie, that eat my people as they eat bread, they call not upon God. There they dreaded a dread where no dread was, for God hath scattered the bones of him that besiegeth thee; thou hast made them abashed, for God hath contemptuously cast them off. Who will give out of Sion the salvations of Israel? when God returneth the captivitie of his people, Iakob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoyce.

Annotations. MAchalath] this seemeth to be a kind of instrument much like Nechiloth, Psal. 5. 1. It may also be interpreted sicknesse or infirmitie. So in the title of Psal. 88. an instructing Psalme] Maskil: see Psal. 32. 1. This Psalme is the same in effect, and almost in words, with the 14 Psalme, some few things changed. See the notes there. Vers. 2. with injurious evill] so the Greeke saith, with iniquities they are made abominable. Or, wee may read, they have done abominable [illegible: 1 span]. Vers. 4. every one is gone backe] Hebr. All he, that is, Each one, or whosoever he be, in particular. In Psalm. 14. 3. he speaketh generally, all is departed. Vers. 6. where no dread was] that is, no cause of droad. God giveth to the wicked a trembling [illegible: 1 letter]eart, Deut. 28. 65. and a sound of feare is in their [illegible: 1 letter]ares, Iob 15. 21. yea the sound of a lease chaseth them, and they flee when none pursueth, Lev. 26. 36. Prov. 28. 1. of him that besiegeth thee] or, that pitcheth c[illegible: 2 letters]pe against thee, speaking to the godly man. The Greeke turneth it, of men-pleas[illegible: 1 letter]rs. hast made them abashed] or, shalt make abashed, (for it is a promise, but set downe as already performed, for the more assurance,) or, shalt put to confusion, to wit, them, or their counsell, as they would have confounded thine. See Psal. 14. 6. Vers. 7. who will give] a wish; O that therewere given, &c. See the notes on Psal. 14. 7. salvations] that is, full salvation, health or deliverance.