Psalms 14

Chapter Overview

What happens in Psalms 14

A psalm of David about the foolishness of those who deny God. It paints a dark picture of human corruption but ends with hope. Psalm 53 repeats this psalm with minor differences.

Scripture

The Fool's Declaration

Study note

The fool says there is no God. This is a moral statement — the fool lives as if God does not matter. God looks down and finds no one does good on their own.

1 Only a fool would think to himself, "God doesn't exist." People like that are ruined from the inside out — everything they do is disgusting. Not a single one of them does what is good. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven. He studies all people, trying to find even one who truly understands and reaches out to God. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 But every one of them has turned their back. All together they have gone rotten. There is not a single person who does good — no, not even one. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Hope for Israel

Study note

God asks whether the wicked will ever learn. David ends by longing for the day when God will restore Israel.

4 Don't these evildoers realize what they are doing? They consume my people like they're eating a meal, and they never once think to call on the Lord. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

5 Suddenly they are gripped with terror, because God stands right beside those who do what is right. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

6 You people who do evil try to tear apart the plans that poor people make, but the Lord is the safe place they run to. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

7 If only rescue for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord makes things right for his people again, Jacob will celebrate and Israel will be full of joy. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Key Themes

Themes in Psalms 14

The foolishness of denying GodUniversal human corruptionGod's attention to the righteousHope for israel's salvation

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Psalms Psalm 14:1-3 Romans 3:10-12

Paul quotes this psalm to demonstrate that all people, both Jews and Gentiles, are under sin and in need of God's grace.

Apply This Today

Living Psalms 14

The 'fool' in Scripture is not unintelligent — He is someone who has decided to live as though God does not matter. This psalm is a sobering mirror: apart from God, every human heart drifts toward self-destruction. But the closing verse offers hope — salvation is coming from Zion. God has not given up on us.

Go Deeper

Study Psalms in Covenant Path

Read every chapter with study aids, bookmarks, and daily reading plans — free in the app.

Download for iOS Download for Android

← Psalms 14 →