complete verse (Psalm 53:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Psalm 53:3:

  • Chichewa Contempary Chichewa translation, 2002/2016:
    “Everyone has returned,
    all of them together have become evil;
    there is not even one who does good (thing)
    even one.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)
  • Newari:
    “They have gone down the wrong road.
    Their character has been ruined.
    There isn’t a single one who does good.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:
    “All have-turned-away from God and their lives have- all-the-same -become-evil/bad.
    There-is-no-one at-all/[emphasis marker] who does good [not] even one.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Laarim:
    “All people went astray
    and sinned,
    there is not one who does matter which are good,
    there is not even one.” (Source: Laarim Back Translation)
  • Nyakyusa-Ngonde (back-translation into Swahili):
    “Watu wote wameacha kumcha Mungu,
    wameharibika tabia yao.
    Hakuna hata mmoja ambaye anafanya mazuri,
    hakuna hata mmoja.” (Source: Nyakyusa Back Translation)
  • English:
    “But they are all morally corrupt; no one does what is good/right.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Psalm 53:2 - 53:3

Here God is used instead of “Yahweh” (“The LORD”) in Psalm 14.

In verse 3 instead of “gone astray” in Psalm 14, here a different verb is used, fallen away, with the same meaning of moral and spiritual corruption.

Unaccountably, Revised Standard Version translates identical Hebrew passages in different ways in these two psalms: verse 2a sons of men and “children of men”; verse 2c that are wise and “that act wisely”; verse 3b depraved and “corrupt.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .