< Psalms 14 >
1 [For the Chief Musician. By David.] The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They do abominable works. There is none who does good.
For the music director. A psalm of David. Only fools tell themselves, “God doesn't exist.” They are completely immoral; they commit terrible sins; not a single one of them does anything good.
2 YHWH looks down from heaven on the descendants of Adam, to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.
The Lord watches from heaven to see whether anyone understands—if there's anyone who wants to come to God.
3 They have all turned away. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
They have all gone their own way, they are totally depraved; none of them does anything good, not even one.
4 Have all evildoers no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread? They do not call on YHWH.
Won't these people who do evil ever learn? They consume my people as if they were eating bread, and refuse to pray to the Lord.
5 There they are utterly terrified, for God is in the generation of the righteous.
Look, they will become terrified, because God is with those who live right.
6 You would frustrate the plans of the lowly, but YHWH is his refuge.
The wicked dismiss the plans of the poor people, but the Lord looks after them.
7 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion. When YHWH restores the fortunes of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be glad.
If only the Lord's salvation would come from Zion! When the Lord restores his people, the people of Jacob will celebrate, and the people of Israel will be glad.