PsalmsChapter 14

+ Secondary text Original text ← Previous Next →Contribute

For the choir director. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

All have turned away, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Do they know nothing, all these evildoers, who devour my people as they devour bread and never call on the LORD?

There they were seized with terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.

You would frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.

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

Lookup

Summary2

Chapter 14

Main Theme: A wisdom psalm that contrasts the fool's godlessness and humanity's universal sin with the hope of God's salvation from Zion.

Content: The psalm begins with the fool's claim that there is no God, followed by a description of humanity's moral decay—all have turned away; none do good. God looks down from heaven and finds no one seeking Him. Evildoers oppress God's people but will be struck with fear because God is with the righteous. The psalm concludes with a prayer for salvation to come from Zion.

Key Words/Images:

The Fool (נָבָל): One who denies God in his heart and lives accordingly—not intellectual doubt, but moral rebellion.
All have turned away: Universal sin—none do good, not even one.
They devour my people as bread: A picture of ruthless oppression of the vulnerable.
The Lord is their refuge: God protects the poor from their oppressors.
Salvation from Zion: Eschatological hope for God's intervention that will bring joy to Israel.

Historical context

Key Concepts

The Hebrew word נָבָל (naval) in verse 1 means more than just "fool" in the modern sense. In biblical Hebrew, it describes a person who is morally corrupt and denies God's existence or relevance—not out of intellectual doubt, but out of practical indifference that leads to immoral behavior. This kind of foolishness is tied to character and conduct, not a lack of intelligence. The same word is used about Nabal in 1 Samuel 25, who acted foolishly and wickedly.

The phrase אֵין אֱלֹהִים (en Elohim – "there is no God") does not necessarily represent theoretical atheism, which was rare in ancient times, but rather practical godlessness—living as if God neither sees nor cares about human actions. This was a widespread attitude that the prophets often criticized.

Places

Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tsiyyon) is mentioned in verse 7 as the place from which salvation will come. In David's time, Zion was identified with the City of David, the oldest part of Jerusalem that David captured from the Jebusites. Later, the name was expanded to include the temple hill. The psalmist's longing for salvation "from Zion" reflects the belief that the Lord's presence dwelt there and that divine intervention would proceed from this holy place.

Events and Customs

The expression "they devour my people as they eat bread" (verse 4) uses a powerful image from everyday life to describe social oppression. In ancient Israel, it was common for powerful people to exploit the poor through unjust debt practices, land grabs, and corruption in the legal system. The prophets Amos, Micah, and Isaiah use similar language to condemn such economic oppression. To "devour the people" became a standard expression for the systematic exploitation of vulnerable groups in society.

People1

David1

See all people →

Key words8

Fool — A person who lacks reason, wisdom, or judgment, and acts recklessly or carelessly.
Deny — To reject, disavow, or refuse to believe in something; in this case, the existence of God.
Wicked — Something morally wrong, harmful, or evil; contrary to goodness and justice.
God — The Almighty Creator who, according to Genesis, created the heavens, the earth, and all life.
Created — The term used to describe God's act of bringing the universe and everything in it into existence.
Righteous — A person who acts in accordance with moral principles and ethics; honest and just.
Lord — A title for God that emphasizes His authority and dominion over all things and everyone.
Salvation — God's act of saving people from sin and its consequences, and granting them eternal life.