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Psalms 14

BSB·7 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1The foolנָבָ֣לnā·ḇāl — foolish, senseless person; moral depravityH5036 — Full Word Study → saysאָ֘מַ֤ר’ā·mar — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → in his heartבְּ֭לִבּוֹbə·lib·bōw — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study →, “There is no Godאֱלֹהִ֑ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →.” They are corruptהִֽשְׁחִ֗יתוּhiš·ḥî·ṯū — to destroy, ruin, or corruptH7843 — Full Word Study →; their actsעֲלִילָ֗ה‘ă·lî·lāh — deed, action, or workH5949 — Full Word Study → are vileהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּhiṯ·‘î·ḇū — to abhor, regard with disgust or loathingH8581 — Full Word Study →. There is noאֵ֣ין’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → one who doesעֹֽשֵׂה־‘ō·śêh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → goodטֽוֹב׃ṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →. 2The LORDיְֽהוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → looks downהִשְׁקִ֪יףhiš·qîp̄ — to look out, gaze upon, appearH8259 — Full Word Study → from heavenמִשָּׁמַיִם֮miš·šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → uponעַֽל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the sonsבְּנֵי־bə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of menאָ֫דָ֥ם’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → to seeלִ֭רְאוֹתlir·’ō·wṯ — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → if anyהֲיֵ֣שׁhă·yêš — there is, exists, has beingH3426 — Full Word Study → understandמַשְׂכִּ֑ילmaś·kîl — To act wisely; to understand, prosper, or give skillH7919 — Full Word Study →, if any seekדֹּ֝רֵשׁdō·rêš — to seek, inquire, search diligentlyH1875 — Full Word Study → Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. 3Allהַכֹּ֥לhak·kōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → have turned awayסָר֮sār — to turn aside, depart, removeH5493 — Full Word Study →, they have togetherיַחְדָּ֪וyaḥ·dāw — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study → become corruptנֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּne·’ĕ·lā·ḥū — to corrupt, defile, become filthyH444 — Full Word Study →; there is noאֵ֤ין’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → one who doesעֹֽשֵׂה־‘ō·śêh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → goodט֑וֹבṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →, notאֵ֝֗ין’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → evenגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → oneאֶחָֽד׃’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study →. 4Will the workersפֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫יpō·‘ă·lê — to do, work, make, performH6466 — Full Word Study → of iniquityאָ֥וֶן’ā·wen — Evil, wickedness, iniquity, or worthlessnessH205 — Full Word Study → neverהֲלֹ֥אhă·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → learnיָדְעוּ֮yā·ḏə·‘ū — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study →? They devourאֹכְלֵ֣י’ō·ḵə·lê — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → my peopleעַ֭מִּי‘am·mî — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study → like breadלֶ֑חֶםle·ḥem — Bread; food; sustenanceH3899 — Full Word Study →; they refuseלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → to call uponקָרָֽאוּ׃qā·rā·’ū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְ֝הוָ֗הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. 5There they areשָׁ֤ם׀šām — There, in that placeH8033 — Full Word Study →, overwhelmedפָּ֣חֲדוּpā·ḥă·ḏū — to fear, dread, or be afraidH6342 — Full Word Study → with dreadפָ֑חַדp̄ā·ḥaḏ — dread, terror, overwhelming fearH6343 — Full Word Study →, forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Godאֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → is in the company of the righteousצַדִּֽיק׃ṣad·dîq — Righteous, just person; one who is right with GodH6662 — Full Word Study →. 6You sinners frustrate the plansעֲצַת־‘ă·ṣaṯ- — counsel, advice, or purposeH6098 — Full Word Study → of the oppressedעָנִ֥י‘ā·nî — Poor, afflicted, humbleH6041 — Full Word Study →, yetכִּ֖יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → is their shelterמַחְסֵֽהוּ׃maḥ·sê·hū — Refuge, shelter, or place of safetyH4268 — Full Word Study →. 7Oh, thatמִ֥יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → the salvationיְשׁוּעַ֪תyə·šū·‘aṯ — Deliverance, salvation, rescue from dangerH3444 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → would comeיִתֵּ֣ןyit·tên — to give, grant, or bestowH5414 — Full Word Study → from Zionמִצִּיּוֹן֮miṣ·ṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study →! When the LORDיְ֭הוָהYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → restoresבְּשׁ֣וּבbə·šūḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → His captiveשְׁב֣וּתšə·ḇūṯ — Captivity, exile, or the state of being taken captiveH7622 — Full Word Study → peopleעַמּ֑וֹ‘am·mōw — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →, let Jacobיַ֝עֲקֹ֗בya·‘ă·qōḇ — He grasps the heelH3290 — Full Word Study → rejoiceיָגֵ֥לyā·ḡêl — to rejoice, be glad, exultH1523 — Full Word Study →, let Israelיִשְׂרָֽאֵל׃yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → be gladיִשְׂמַ֥חyiś·maḥ — To rejoice, be glad, make merryH8055 — Full Word Study →!
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Chapter Commentary — Psalms 14
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Psalm 14 is a penetrating exposé of human sinfulness and spiritual rebellion, yet it ultimately anchors hope in God's sovereignty and justice. The psalmist begins by describing the atheistic fool and the universal corruption of mankind, then shifts to God's vantage point—He sees all and judges all. The psalm concludes with a longing for Israel's redemption, reminding us that only God's intervention can rescue humanity from its own depravity. This psalm powerfully illustrates the doctrine of human depravity and sets the stage for the gospel's necessity.

Verses 1–3: The Universal Problem of Human Corruption

The psalm opens with a striking declaration: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Here, "fool" (Hebrew nabal) is not primarily an intellectual designation but a moral one—it describes someone who denies God not because of lack of evidence, but because of hardened rebellion and spiritual blindness. Verse 1 immediately connects this atheistic stance to moral corruption: those who reject God's existence inevitably become corrupt and commit abominable works.

Verses 2–3 deepen this diagnosis with God's perspective. The Lord looked down from heaven to see if anyone understood and sought Him—a sobering divine inspection. The verdict is devastating: "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." This universal indictment of human sinfulness—echoed in Romans 3:10–12—reveals that humanity's problem is not merely isolated instances of wrongdoing, but a total depravity of the human condition apart from God's grace.

Application: These verses humble us. They remind us that no one can stand before God on the basis of personal righteousness, and that our need for Christ's redemption is not optional but absolute.

Verses 4–5: The Callousness of the Wicked and God's Defense

Verse 4 describes the practical atheism of workers of iniquity: they devour God's people "as they eat bread" without conscience, and they "call not upon the LORD." This is not absentminded indifference but willful defiance—they live as though God does not exist or does not matter.

But verse 5 introduces a turning point: "There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous." The oppressors will tremble when they encounter God standing with His people. This verse assures the afflicted that though the wicked prosper temporarily, God's presence with the righteous is their ultimate protection and vindication. The wicked may not "call upon the LORD," but the righteous do—and God hears and defends them.

Application: When we face opposition for our faith, we can take courage knowing that God sides with His people and will ultimately judge those who persist in rebellion.

Verses 6–7: The Comfort of God's Refuge and Hope for Redemption

Verse 6 directly addresses the poor and afflicted: those who shame the counsel of the defenseless fail to recognize that the LORD is the poor man's refuge. God champions the vulnerable; their shame is His concern.

The psalm concludes with longing: "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" This is not merely a prayer for political restoration but for spiritual salvation—deliverance from sin and judgment. The psalmist envisions the day when "the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people," and Jacob rejoices. This hope points beyond Israel's immediate exile to the ultimate redemption found in Christ, Israel's true King and Savior, who brings captives into freedom.

Application: Like the psalmist, we long for Christ's return and the final establishment of His kingdom, when all injustice will be remedied and His people will rejoice fully in His presence.

Application for Today

Psalm 14 calls us to honest self-assessment: apart from God's grace, we are the fool described in verse 1. Yet it also reminds us that God sees, judges, and protects His people. In a world that increasingly rejects biblical truth, we find courage in knowing that God stands with the righteous and that ultimate redemption belongs to those who trust in Him and His coming kingdom.

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