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Psalm 14[a]

A Lament over Widespread Corruption

For the leader. Of David.

I

The fool says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”
Their deeds are loathsome and corrupt;
    not one does what is good.(A)
The Lord looks down from heaven
    upon the children of men,(B)
To see if even one is wise,
    if even one seeks God.(C)
All have gone astray;
    all alike are perverse.
Not one does what is good,
    not even one.(D)

II

Will these evildoers never learn?
    They devour my people as they devour bread;(E)
    they do not call upon the Lord.(F)
They have good reason, then, to fear;
    God is with the company of the just.
They would crush the hopes of the poor,
    but the poor have the Lord as their refuge.

III

(G)Oh, that from Zion might come
    the salvation of Israel!
Jacob would rejoice, and Israel be glad
    when the Lord restores his people![b]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 14 The lament (duplicated in Ps 53) depicts the world as consisting of two types of people: “the fool” (equals the wicked, Ps 14:1–3) and “the company of the just” (Ps 14:4–6; also called “my people,” and “the poor”). The wicked persecute the just, but the Psalm expresses the hope that God will punish the wicked and reward the good.
  2. 14:7 Jacob…Israel…his people: the righteous poor are identified with God’s people.

Psalm 14(A)

For the director of music. Of David.

The fool[a] says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(B)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

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

Do all these evildoers know nothing?(J)

They devour my people(K) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.(L)
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.(M)

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!(N)
    When the Lord restores(O) his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.