Psalm 14

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director. Davidic.

The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.”(A)
They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race(B)
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.[a](C)

Will evildoers never understand?
They consume My people as they consume bread;(D)
they do not call on the Lord.(E)

Then[b] they will be filled with terror,
for God is with those who are[c] righteous.(F)
You sinners frustrate the plans of the afflicted,(G)
but the Lord is his refuge.(H)

Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people,[d]
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.[e](I)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 14:3 Some Hb mss, some LXX mss add the material found in Rm 3:13-18.
  2. Psalm 14:5 Or There
  3. Psalm 14:5 Lit with the generation of the
  4. Psalm 14:7 Or restores His captive people
  5. Psalm 14:7 Or let Jacob rejoice; let Israel be glad.

To the Director: A Davidic Psalm.

The Fool and God’s Response

14 Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt and commit evil deeds;
        not one of them practices what is good.

The Lord looks down from the heavens upon humanity[a]
    to see if anyone shows discernment as he searches for God.
All have turned away,
    together they have become corrupt;
        no one practices what is good, not even one.

Will those who do evil ever learn?
    They devour my people like they devour bread,
        and never call on the Lord.
There they are seized with terror,
    because God is with those who are[b] righteous.

You would frustrate the plans of the oppressed,[c]
    but the Lord is their refuge.
May Israel’s deliverance come from Zion!
    When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
        Jacob will rejoice, and Israel will be glad.[d]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 14:2 Lit. upon the sons of Adam
  2. Psalm 14:5 Lit. with the generation of the
  3. Psalm 14:6 Or the poor
  4. Psalm 14:7 Cf. Ps 53:1-6