Psalm 14

Psalm 14 is the 14th psalm from the Book of Psalms, attributed to David. With minor differences, it is nearly identical in content with Psalm 53.[1] Hermann Gunkel dates the psalm to the exile period.[2] In the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate ("Dixit insipiens in corde suo"), this psalm is Psalm 13 in a slightly different numbering system.

Martin Luther's singable version of the 14th Psalm ("Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl") in the 1524 Erfurt Enchiridion – at that time still using the Septuagint/Vulgate numbering of Psalms ("Der .xiii. Psalm", lit. '"The 13th Psalm"').

Full Text

1. 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 looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.
5. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.
7. 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. King James Version.[3]

There is a long passage after verse 3 which is present in the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and two Hebrew manuscripts, but missing from the Masoretic text and from Psalm 53. The passage (and verses 2 and 3) is quoted in full in Romans 3 from the Septuagint.[4] The Hebrew of this passage, including verse 3, reads:[5]

Hebrew

English

הַכֹּל סָר יַחְדָּו נֶאֱלָחוּ אֵין עֹשֵׂה טוֹב אֵין גַּם אֶחָד׃ קֶבֶר פָּתוּחַ גְּרוֹנָם לְשׁוֹנָם יַחֲלִיקוּן חֲמַת עַכְשׁוּב תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנָם אֲשֶׁר פִּיהֶם אָלָה וּמִרְמָה מָלֵא קַלּוּ רַגְלֵיהֶם לִשְׁפּוֹךְ דָּם׃ מַזָּל רַע וּפֶגַע רַע בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם וְדֶרֶךְ שָׁלוֹם לֹא יָדְעוּ אֵין פַּחַד אֱלֹהִים לְנֶגֶד עֵינֵיהֶם׃

They are all gone aside, they are together become filthy. There is none that doeth good, not even one. An open grave is their throat, their tongue speaketh smoothly. Asp venom is under their tongue, whose mouth is full of cursing and deceit. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Misfortune and evil injury are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Meaning

David is telling the audience that it is foolish to not believe in God. The opening statement says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." In the Bible when something or someone is referenced to being "foolish", this means that this person is "someone who disregards God's word". He refers to them as corrupt and does work that is hateful when it says "abominable". David is making it clear that without God, man cannot do any good because we have a sinful nature. One who does not believe in God, is susceptible to hatefulness and corrupt behavior.

According to Christian exegesis, David begins to reference the return of Christ to retrieve his people. When he discusses the salvation of Israel and bringing them out of captivity, he is saying that the Lord will bring the ones who call on his name and are his believers to safety, away from the dominion of sin on the earth.[6][7]

Uses

New Testament

Some verses of Psalm 14 are referenced in the New Testament. Verses 1c, 2b, 3 are quoted in Romans 3:10–12[8]

References

1. Bennett, Robert A. “Wisdom Motifs in Psalm 14 = 53: Nābāl and 'Ēṣāh.” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 220, 1975, pp. 15–21.
2. Gunkel, Hermann (1986). Die Psalmen (in German) (6. Aufl ed.). Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. p. 233. ISBN 3525516533. OCLC 15270384.
3. "Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 14 - King James Version". Bible Gateway.
4. Romans 3:11–18
5. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 1983
6. "Psalms 14 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)". Bible Study Tools.
7. "Topical Bible: Abominable". biblehub.com.
8. Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 838. Retrieved February 28, 2019.

External links

• Psalm 14 in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
• Psalm 14 King James Bible - Wikisource