14 1 He describeth the perverse nature of men, which were so grown to licentiousness, that God was brought to utter contempt. 7 For the which thing, although he was greatly grieved, yet being persuaded that God would send some present remedy, he comforteth himself and others.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 The (A)fool hath said in his heart, [a]There is no God: they have [b]corrupted, and done an abominable work: 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 would understand, and seek God.
3 [c]All are gone out of the way: they are all corrupt: there is none that doeth good, no not one.
4 Do not all the workers of iniquity know that they eat up my people, as they eat bread? they call not upon the Lord.
5 [d]There they shall be taken with fear, because God is in the generation of the just.
6 You have made [e]a mock at the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his trust.
7 Oh give salvation unto [f]Israel out of Zion: when the Lord turneth the captivity of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Note that of Psalm 14:5-7, which are put into the common translation, and may seem unto some to be left out in this, are not in the same Psalm in the Hebrew text, but rather are put in more fully to express the manners of the wicked, and are gathered out of Psalms 5, 10, 36, 140; Isa. 59, and are alleged by S. Paul, and placed together in Romans 3.
Footnotes
- Psalm 14:1 He showeth that the cause of all wickedness is to forget God.
- Psalm 14:1 There is nothing but disorder and wickedness among them.
- Psalm 14:3 David here maketh comparison between the faithful and the reprobate, but S. Paul speaketh the same of all men naturally, Rom. 3:10.
- Psalm 14:5 Where they think themselves most sure.
- Psalm 14:6 You mock them that put their trust in God.
- Psalm 14:7 He prayeth for the whole Church whom he is assured God will deliver: for none but he only can do it.