1 To the choirmaster. Upon Mahalath. A maskil of David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They have acted corruptly and made injustice abominable; there is no one who does good.
Romans · AD 56 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Salvian the Presbyter · AD 500 To such people the word of the prophet can be applied most fittingly: "The fool says in his heart, there is no God." They who say that nothing is seen by God almost deprive him of eyes and even take away substance from him. For when they say he sees nothing, they say he does not exist at all.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "The fool has said." Above, the Psalmist rebuked the wickedness of sinners from the side of their affection for sin; here he rebukes their wickedness from their contempt of God. The title: "Unto the end, for understanding, of David, for Amalek." The history of this is found in 1 Sam.
The Fool Says There Is No God 2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of man, to see whether there is anyone who acts wisely, who seeks God.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Let us advert also to that sense, which concerning Christ our Lord Himself, our Head Himself, doth present itself. For when Himself in form of a servant appeared on earth, they that crucified Him said, "He is not God." Because Son of God He was, truly God He was. But they that are corrupted and have become abominable said what?
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "In the heart." There are two things that must be done concerning God, namely that the intellect be fixed inwardly upon the knowledge of God and that the affection tend toward God as toward its end.
3 All of it has turned aside; together they have become foul; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "The Lord from Heaven has looked forth upon the sons of men, that He might see if there is one understanding and seeking after God" [Psalm 53:3]. What is this? "Corrupted they are," all these that say, "There is no God"? And what? Did it escape God, that they had become such? Or indeed to us would their inward thought be opened, except by Him it were told?
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "All have turned aside." And first he touches upon the departure from the root. Second he says what follows from this. And concerning this he explains. He says, therefore, he inquires here, but he finds that "all have turned aside, together they have become useless"; and again, "there is none who does good." From the understanding and seeking of God "all have departed." Is.
4 Do the workers of iniquity not know — those who eat my people as they eat bread, who do not call on God?
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "Shall they not know," etc. Above, the Psalmist introduced the judge looking upon iniquity and uselessness. Here he treats of the sentence of judgment. And first as to the condemnation of the wicked. Second as to the salvation of the good, at "Who shall give," etc. Concerning the first he does two things. First he proposes the question.
5 There they were seized with dread where there was no dread; for God has scattered the bones of the one who encamps against you; you have put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Shall not all know that work iniquity, that devour My people for the food of bread"? [Psalm 53:5]....There is therefore here a people of God that is being devoured. Nay, "There is not one that does good, there is not so much as one." We reply by the rule above.
Martin of Braga · AD 580 Such a person not only cuts himself off from the rewards of his virtues but even lays himself open to being condemned to eternal punishment, because the good action, which ought to be performed in consideration of a merciful God, has been performed in order to gain praise.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "Because God has scattered." Here he makes clear the question of how correction takes place, that is, through punishment. And he introduces a twofold punishment, namely interior and exterior. He shows the first when he says, "God has scattered the bones of those who please men," that is, who ultimately desire to please men. By "bones" is understood strength.
6 Who will give from Zion the salvations of Israel? When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 For this reason what followeth concerning them? "There have they feared with fear, where there was no fear" (ver. 6). For is there fear, if a man lose riches? There is no fear there, and yet in that case men are afraid. But if a man lose wisdom, truly there is fear, and in that case he is not afraid. ...Thou hast feared to give back money, and hast willed to lose fidelity.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 "Who shall give from Zion?" Here he treats of the good. And first the question is proposed. Second, the answer. The question is this: Who, going forth from Zion, shall save Israel? Who?