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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

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14 (A)The (B)fool says in his heart, (C)“There is no God.”
    They are (D)corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
    (E)there is none who does good.

The Lord (F)looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,[a]
    who (G)seek after God.

They have all turned aside; together they have become (H)corrupt;
    there is none who does good,
    not even one.

Have they no (I)knowledge, all the evildoers
    who (J)eat up my people as they eat bread
    and (K)do not call upon the Lord?

There they are in great terror,
    for God is with (L)the generation of the righteous.
You would shame the plans of the poor,
    but[b] the Lord is his (M)refuge.

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

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 14:2 Or that act wisely
  2. Psalm 14:6 Or for