Psalms 53:1-6

This psalm, with slight variations, is found in the first book Psalms 14:1). Its introduction a second time necessarily leads us to notice the differences. In all probability the editor incorporated it into this book because of these very changes.

They are, first, the substitution of "God" for "Jehovah four times. Perhaps the change was made for liturgical use in some special circumstances, in which the desire was to express praise of God as the wonder-working God. All that was true of Jehovah's knowledge of men (see Psa 14:1-7) is true also of God's attitude toward men as the Wonder-worker. He looks on men not only as Helper, but as the supreme One. Not only do the workers of iniquity fail to discover Him as the Helper, they do not call on Him as the mighty One. The other main change is found in verse Psalms 53:5, for the exposition of which see note on Psalms 14:1.