1
(13-1) <Unto the end, a psalm for David.> The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one.
2
(13-2) The Lord hath looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God.
3
(13-3) They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: there is none that doth good: no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they acted deceitfully: the poison of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and unhappiness in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.
4
(13-4) Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people as they eat bread?
5
(13-5) They have not called upon the Lord: there have they trembled for fear, where there was no fear.
6
(13-6) For the Lord is in the just generation: you have confounded the counsel of the poor man; but the Lord is his hope.
To the chief Musician, [a Psalm] of David. The argument of this psalm, according to Theodoret, is Sennacherib's invasion of Judea, when he sent Rabshakeh to Hezekiah, with menaces and curses; upon which Hezekiah implored divine help, and obtained it, and the Assyrian army was destroyed by an angel; of all which he thinks this psalm was prophetic.