No One Who Does Good

Psalm 14's title says it is for the Chief Musician and is by David. It begins with a diagnosis of the human heart: The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. The biblical fool is not lacking intelligence but lacking reverence. Such a person may never say the words aloud, but he says them in his heart by living as if God will never see or judge. The result is corruption and abominable deeds.

Verse 2 gives heaven's view: Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God. Verse 3 gives the verdict: They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one. In the New Testament, Paul quotes this psalm to show that all people, not just some, are sinners who need God's grace (Romans 3:10-12).

The psalm then turns. The workers of iniquity harm God's people and don't call on Yahweh, but they end in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous. They frustrate the plan of the poor, because Yahweh is his refuge. The final verse is a longing prayer: Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.