Psalms 53:1-6

Of the Corruption and Salvation of Men.

To the chief musician, for use in the liturgical part of public worship, upon Mahalath, in a sorrowful manner, agreeing with the general tone of the hymn, Maschil, a didactic poem, a psalm of David. This psalm, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was evidently recast from Psalms 14, probably for a special occasion, and was for that reason included in the Psalter for the second time. Cf Psalms 14 for the general explanation.