Psalm 53 (= Psalm 14), All are Corrupt

For the director of music. According to mahalath. A maskil of David.

This psalm is almost identical with Psalm 14 and so provides some hints to the editorial development of the Psalter. Here (unlike Psalm 14) the song is called a "maskil", according to "mahalath", presumably a particular type of music. 

Robert Alter points out that in this psalm, as in much of Book II of the Psalms, the word for God is 'elohim, when in Psalm 14, it is YHWH. The only other significant change occurs at verse 5, below.

Psalm 53: 1, Scoundrel

 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." 

They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; 

there is no one who does good.

The fool (or "scoundrel") feels free to do what he wants, dismissive of any One overseeing his actions. 

Kidner points out that the Hebrew word nabal, here translated fool, is also the name given to Abigail's rude husband in 1 Samuel 25. Since Psalm 52 describes David's betrayal by Doeg (from 1 Samuel 22) and Psalm 54 describes David's betrayal by the Ziphites (from 1 Samuel 26?), it is natural that there would be, between these two psalms, a psalm in that recalls Nabal's foolishness.

Psalm 53: 2-4, Altogether corrupt

 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men 

to see if there are any who understand, 

any who seek God.

Everyone has turned away, 

they have together become corrupt; 

there is no one who does good, 

not even one.

Will the evildoers never learn-- 

those who devour my people as men eat bread 

and who do not call on God?

There is no one who is really good, who really, truly, seeks God. The scoundrel who rejects God (in verse 1) is representative of all mankind, much like Adam is representative of mankind.

Psalm 53: 5, Nothing to dread

There they were, overwhelmed with dread, 

where there was nothing to dread.

God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; 

you put them to shame, 

for God despised them.

The enemy panics and God scatters them.

This verse is different from Psalm 14, where we have instead "But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge."

Psalm 53: 6, Salvation out of Zion

 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! 

When God restores the fortunes of his people, 

let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Despite the evil of mankind, Israel looks for salvation and restoration.  The nation of Israel, as YHWH's special nation, needs restoration, both spiritual and physical.