²¹ When the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma,^(A) he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground^(B) because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward.^(C) And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.^(D)

Psalm 14

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director. Of David.

¹⁹ For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies,^(A) slander.^(B)

²⁸ And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. ²⁹ They are filled with all unrighteousness,^[a] evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips,^{(A) 30} slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful,^(B) inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,^{(C) 31} senseless, untrustworthy, unloving,^[b](D) and unmerciful. ³² Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die^[c](E)—they not only do them, but even applaud^[d](F) others who practice them.