Psalm 14

New International Version

Psalm 14^(A)

For the director of music. Of David.

¹The 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.

²The Lord looks down from heaven^(C)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,^(D)
    any who seek God.^(E)
³All have turned away,^(F) all have become corrupt;^(G)
    there is no one who does good,^(H)
    not even one.^(I)

⁴Do all these evildoers know nothing?^(J)

They devour my people^(K) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.^(L)
⁵But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
⁶You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.^(M)

⁷Oh, 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

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

Psalm 53

New International Version

Psalm 53^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. According to mahalath.^[b] A maskil^[c] of David.

¹The fool^(B) says in his heart,
“There is no God.”^(C)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.

²God looks down from heaven^(D)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,^(E)
    any who seek God.^(F)
³Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
    there is no one who does good,
    not even one.^(G)

⁴Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;
    they never call on God.
⁵But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    where there was nothing to dread.^(H)
God scattered the bones^(I) of those who attacked you;^(J)
    you put them to shame,^(K) for God despised them.^(L)