Psalm 53:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

NIV: Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

NASB: Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

CSB: Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

NLT: Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When God restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

KJV: Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

NKJV: Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

In this verse David's thoughts turn from the negative to the positive. After writing about the judgment of the wicked, he expresses his hope for Israel's salvation. The Bible teaches that God will restore the kingdom to Israel after purging the nation in the tribulation period.

Zechariah 12:7 says the Lord will give salvation to Judah. Verse 10 prophesies that the Jews will receive "a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy" so that they will look on "him whom they have pierced" and repent. Zechariah 13:1 predicts there will be a fountain of cleansing opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Zechariah 13:9 prophesies that God will judge the nation, and two thirds of the people will perish; however, one third will survive. According to Zechariah chapter 14, Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives and establish His kingdom at that time. Verse 9 says, "And the LORD will be king over all the earth."

What David prays in this verse will, one day, come to pass. Salvation will come to Israel and the nation will rejoice.

Psalm 53:4–6 writes about the judgment God brings on the wicked. Psalm 73:18–20 also speaks about the terror the wicked will experience when God judges them. By contrast the future of the righteous is bright. Salvation will come to Israel in the form of Messiah's kingdom.

David's worshipful song points out the recklessness and evil of denying the existence of God. That attitude leads to evil, but God also notes that the entire human race has chosen to ignore Him and go their own way. Those who oppose God will, eventually, be thoroughly defeated by God's holiness. The psalm ends with David's prayer for the salvation and restoration of Israel.

This brief collection of verses is arranged for use in music or worship. It is similar to Psalm 14 and is quoted in part in Romans 3. Here David depicts the human race as evil and incapable of producing any truly good deeds in God's sight. David, the psalmist, longs for the establishment of God's kingdom on earth. When the kingdom arrives, there will be great joy. Ephesians 2:1–3 also portrays humanity as spiritually evil, and Isaiah 12 also describes the kingdom as a time of great joy.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 5/7/2024 3:16:41 AM