The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.

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

4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on the LORD.

5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
for God is present in the company of the righteous.

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

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

Psalm 14

How foolish is the man who says,

“There is no God for me.”

Such talk comes from an evil heart;

‘Tis clear to all he has no part

Of those who truly see.

The Lord looks down from heaven to seek

True wisdom in mankind:

He longs for one with faithful walk,

A single one with honest talk,

But not one can He find.

What, no one!  All have strayed away,

All eaten up with sin,

Devouring other men like bread,

And pray? They might as well be dead!

They’re rotten out and in.

Sheer terror grips them when they come

To realize their plight,

For God is with the ones who’ve proved

That from His way they’ll not be moved,

No matter what the fight.

God is the refuge of the poor

And humble, when oppressed

By wicked men who scheme and plot

To spoil and overthrow the lot

Of those whom God has blessed.

Oh, that deliverance would come soon:

From Zion God will come

To save His people from distress,

To rescue them from wickedness

And joyfully take them home.