Psalms 53 in the early church

41 passages quote, allude to, or echo Psalms 53, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6

Psalms 53:1

For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 53:1 (52:2 LXX)	PG 12:1455 (Ps 51–52 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 53:1 (52:1 LXX)	Letter to Marcellinus 17 · Athanasius of Alexandria	allusion, high confidence	uncertain, after 335
Ps 53:1 (52:1 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.1 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:1 (52:2 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.2 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:1 (52:2 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.3 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:1 (52:2 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.4 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:1–3 (52:2-Ps Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.10 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:1 (52:1 Vulg.)	On the Christian Faith 2.13 · Ambrose	quotation, high confidence	ca. 378–380
Ps 53:1–6 (52:1-Ps LXX)	Psalm 52 · Apollinaris of Laodicea	quotation, high confidence	uncertain (fourth to sixth century)

Psalms 53:2

God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 53:2 (52:3 LXX)	Commentary on Romans 3.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)
Ps 53:2 (52:3 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.5 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:2 (52:3 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.6 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:2–4 (52:3-Ps Vulg.)	City of God 16.10 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	413–426

Psalms 53:3

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 53:3 (52:4 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.8 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:3 (52:4 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.9 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367

Psalms 53:4

Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon God.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 53:4 (52:5 LXX)	PG 12:1455 (Ps 51–52 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 53:4–5 (52:5-Ps Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.13 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:4–5 (52:5-Ps Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.15 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367

Psalms 53:5

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to fear. For God has scattered the bones of those who besieged you. You put them to shame, for God has despised them.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	PG 12:1455 (Ps 51–52 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	PG 12:1457 (Ps 52–53 LXX) · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	To Quirinus 3.55 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	On the Dress of Virgins 5 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 249
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	Letter 3 · Ammonas	quotation, high confidence	ca. 340-360
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.14 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.16 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.17 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	Oration 23.1 · Gregory of Nazianzus	quotation, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	Against Parmenian the Donatist 3.1 · Optatus of Milevis	quotation, high confidence	ca. 366–385
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	Letter 22.27 · Jerome	quotation, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	On the Life of Moses 299 · Gregory of Nyssa	quotation, high confidence	ca. 385–395
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	Letter 22.8 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, medium confidence	ca. 386–430
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	Letter 121.2 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 386–430
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	The Lord's Sermon on the Mount 1.7 · Augustine of Hippo	quotation, high confidence	ca. 393–396
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	Letters 50.2 · Paulinus of Nola	quotation, high confidence	ca. 394–413
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	The Institutes 11.12 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
Ps 53:5 (52:6 Vulg.)	The Institutes 11.19 · John Cassian	quotation, high confidence	ca. 419–426
Ps 53:5 (52:6 LXX)	Celestine, ACO I.2, letter 26.2 · Celestine I, bishop of Rome	allusion, high confidence	430-432

Psalms 53:6

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Ps 53:6 (52:7 LXX)	PG 12:1457 (Ps 52–53 LXX) · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Ps 53:6 (52:7 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.18 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:6 (52:7 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.20 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Ps 53:6 (52:7 Vulg.)	Tractates on the Psalms 52.21 · Hilary of Poitiers	quotation, high confidence	ca. 360–367