Psalms 14

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 14

1¶ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David. 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.

2The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God.

3They 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.

5There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous.

6Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD [is] his refuge.

7Oh 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalms 14 begins by declaring that the fool denies God, leading to widespread corruption and a lack of good deeds among humanity. The LORD observes from heaven, finding none who truly seek Him. The psalm concludes with a longing for God's salvation to come forth from Zion, bringing restoration and joy to Israel.

Medium Summary

Psalm 14 opens with the assertion that those who deny God in their hearts are morally corrupt and commit abominable works, with no one doing good. The LORD looks down from heaven, seeking any among humanity who possess understanding or seek Him, yet finds that all have deviated and become defiled. The psalmist questions the understanding of those who oppress God's people and fail to call upon the LORD. Despite their actions, these workers of iniquity will experience great fear, for God is present with the generation of the righteous. The psalm laments the shaming of the poor's counsel, whose trust is in the LORD. It concludes with an earnest plea for the salvation of Israel to emerge from Zion, anticipating a time when the LORD restores His people, bringing great rejoicing to Jacob and Israel.

Long Summary

Psalm 14, attributed to David and addressed to the chief Musician, commences by identifying the "fool" as one who inwardly declares there is no God. This denial is immediately linked to profound moral corruption, as such individuals are described as having done abominable works, with an absolute absence of anyone doing good. The psalm then shifts to a divine perspective, portraying the LORD looking down from heaven upon all humanity. His purpose in this observation is to discern if any possess true understanding or genuinely seek after God. However, the divine scrutiny reveals a universal depravity: all have gone astray, collectively become filthy, and not a single person is found who does good. The psalmist then poses a rhetorical question, challenging the knowledge of those who are "workers of iniquity." These are depicted as oppressors who "eat up my people as they eat bread" and conspicuously fail to call upon the LORD. Despite their apparent power, the psalm asserts that these wicked individuals will experience "great fear," because God is actively present "in the generation of the righteous." Furthermore, the psalm highlights the injustice faced by the poor, whose wise counsel is shamed, yet their ultimate refuge remains the LORD. The concluding verse expresses a fervent eschatological hope: "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!" This longing anticipates a future time when the LORD will reverse the "captivity of his people," leading to a period of profound rejoicing for Jacob and gladness for Israel, signifying a complete restoration and deliverance.

Core Concepts

  • The Fool's DenialThe central concept of the psalm, where the "fool" is defined not by lack of intellect, but by the internal conviction that "there is no God," leading to moral decay.
  • Universal CorruptionThe psalm repeatedly emphasizes that all humanity, apart from divine intervention, is "corrupt," "filthy," and none "doeth good," highlighting a pervasive moral fallenness.
  • Divine ObservationThe LORD is depicted as actively looking down from heaven to assess humanity's spiritual state, seeking understanding and those who seek Him.
  • Workers of IniquityA specific group identified as oppressors of God's people, characterized by their lack of knowledge and failure to call upon the LORD, yet destined for fear.
  • God with the RighteousDespite widespread corruption, the psalm affirms that God is present with "the generation of the righteous," providing them refuge and causing fear among their oppressors.
  • Salvation from ZionThe psalm concludes with a fervent hope for Israel's ultimate deliverance and restoration, envisioned as coming forth from Zion, bringing joy and freedom from captivity.