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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

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.