Add parallel Print Page Options

The Unbelieving Fool

For the director of music. Of David.

14 Fools say ·to themselves [L in their hearts],
    “There is no God [C Psalm 53 largely parallels this psalm].”
·Fools are evil [L They are corrupt] and do ·terrible [detestable] things [Deut. 32:5];
    there is no one who does anything good.

The Lord looked down from heaven on all people
    to see if anyone ·understood [L was wise/insightful],
    if anyone was ·looking to God for help [seeking God].
But all have ·turned [wandered] away.
    Together, everyone has become ·evil [perverse].
There is no one who does anything good,
    not even one [Rom. 3:10–12].

Don’t ·the wicked [L those who do evil] ·understand [know]?

They ·destroy [consume; L eat] my people as if they were ·eating [consuming] bread.
    They do not ·ask the Lord for help [call on the Lord].
But the wicked are ·filled [terrified] with terror,
    because God is with ·those who do what is right [the company of the righteous].
The wicked ·upset [confuse; frustrate] the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord ·will protect them [is their refuge].

I pray that ·victory [salvation] will come to Israel from Mount Zion [C the location of the Temple]!
    May the Lord ·bring them back [restore the fortunes of his people; C perhaps at the end of the exile].
Then the people of Jacob will rejoice,
    and the people of Israel will be glad.

Folly and Wickedness of Men.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

14 The [spiritually ignorant] fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they have committed repulsive and unspeakable deeds;
There is no one who does good.(A)

The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the children of men
To see if there are any who understand (act wisely),
Who [truly] seek after God, [longing for His wisdom and guidance].

They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.(B)


Have all the workers of wickedness and injustice no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon the Lord?

There they tremble with great fear,
For God is with the [consistently] righteous generation.

You [evildoers] shamefully plan against the poor,
But the Lord is his safe refuge.


Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores His captive people,
Then Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.(C)