¹⁴ Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!^(A)
    We have no desire to know your ways.^(B)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’^(C)
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.^(D)

² The Lord looks down from heaven^(C)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,^(D)
    any who seek God.^(E)
3 All have turned away,^(F) all have become corrupt;^(G)
    there is no one who does good,^(H)
    not even one.^(I)

⁹ The fear of the Lord^(A) is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.^(B)

²² “How long will you who are simple^(A) love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate^(B) knowledge?

²⁹ since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.^(A)