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Psalms 14

World English Bible

WEB

1For the Chief Musician. By David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good. 2Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God. 3They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one. 4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on Yahweh? 5There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous. 6You frustrate the plan of the poor, because Yahweh is his refuge. 7Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 14 is a poignant reflection on the nature of humanity and the folly of denying God. The psalm begins with a stark declaration: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" This assertion highlights the moral and spiritual blindness of those who reject the existence of the Creator. The psalmist describes the corrupt nature of mankind, stating that they have all turned aside and become corrupt, with no one doing good, not even one (Psalm14:1-3). This serves as a sobering reminder of the fallen state of humanity and the need for divine intervention.

The psalm then shifts to the consequences of this rejection of God. It portrays the Lord looking down from heaven to see if there are any who understand or seek Him. The imagery emphasizes God's omniscience and His desire for a relationship with His creation. The psalmist notes that the wicked oppress God's people, but it also reassures the faithful that the Lord is their refuge (Psalm14:4-6). The chapter concludes with a hopeful cry for salvation, expressing the longing for the restoration of Israel and the joy that will come when the Lord brings His people back from captivity. This psalm ultimately points to the necessity of faith in God and the hope found in His redemptive plan for humanity.

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Referenced by

  1. Job 15:14v3Job 15:14 questions the purity and righteousness of man, echoing the sentiment in Psalm 14:3 that all have turned aside and become corrupt, emphasizing the universal sinfulness of humanity.
  2. Psalms 53:2v2Psalm 53:2 and Psalm 14:2 are nearly identical, both describing God looking down from heaven to see if there are any who seek Him, underscoring the theme of divine scrutiny and the rarity of true seekers of God.
  3. Psalms 53:5v5Psalm 53:5 and Psalm 14:5 both describe the fear that comes upon those who do not call upon God, highlighting the theme of divine judgment and the fear of God instilled in the hearts of the wicked.
  4. Psalms 53:6v7Psalm 53:6 expresses a longing for salvation to come out of Zion, similar to Psalm 14:7, which also anticipates the restoration of God's people, pointing to the hope of deliverance and redemption.
  5. Romans 3:10v1Romans 3:10 states that 'There is none righteous, no, not one,' which echoes Psalm 14:1-3, where it is declared that there is none who does good, emphasizing the universal sinfulness of humanity.

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