Psalm 53

This psalm is Psalm 14 with a few minor changes and an additional three lines. In verse 1, "deeds" becomes "ways in Psalm 53. In verse 3 changes "All have turned aside" to "Everyone has turned away." In verse 4 "evildoers is not "the evildoers." "The Lord" (Jehovah) of Psalm 14 is now "God" (Elohim) in four places in Psalm 53. That makes all seven references to the Almighty using the word "God".

The other major change is in verse 5. In Psalm 14, the fools of Israel are being addressed. They are called evildoers and their attempts to hurt the poor are thwarted by God. In Psalm 53, the evildoers appear to people who have attacked Israel. In fact these three lines seem to point to some kind of military victory.

So why is this psalm recorded twice, essentially? Good question. Realizing that Paul also used these words in Romans 3:10-12, it seems that God really wants us to grab a hold of His point. The exact point, I cannot say. But God is pointing out how people try to convince themselves that God doesn't exist, and that God is watching all the while as these evildoers chase their own sinfulness. God saves His own. The evil are left to their own devices.