Psalm 14

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director. Of David.

The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”(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[a](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.(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 dread,
for God is with those who are[c] righteous.(F)
You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed,(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]
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 14:2 Or the descendants of Adam
  2. 14:5 Or There
  3. 14:5 Lit with the generation of the
  4. 14:7 Or restores his captive people

Psalm 14

Denunciation of Godlessness

To the leader. Of David.

Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt; they do abominable deeds;
    there is no one who does good.(A)

The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
    to see if there are any who are wise,
    who seek after God.(B)

They have all gone astray; they are all alike perverse;
    there is no one who does good,
    no, not one.(C)

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
    who eat up my people as they eat bread
    and do not call upon the Lord?(D)

There they shall be in great terror,
    for God is with the company of the righteous.(E)
You would confound the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.(F)

O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
    When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
    Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.(G)