2 Jehovah from the heavens Hath looked on the sons of men, To see if there is a wise one -- seeking God.
From the heavens hath Jehovah looked, He hath seen all the sons of men. From the fixed place of His dwelling, He looked unto all inhabitants of the earth;
And God seeth the earth, and lo, it hath been corrupted, for all flesh hath corrupted its way on the earth.
There is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God.
but good things have been found with thee, for thou hast put away the shrines out of the land, and hast prepared thy heart to seek God.'
Purify themselves, yea, make themselves white, yea, refined are many: and the wicked have done wickedly, and none of the wicked understand, and those acting wisely do understand;
`Who `is' simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart -- she said to him,
Look attentively from the heavens, And see from Thy holy and beauteous habitation, Where `is' Thy zeal and Thy might? The multitude of Thy bowels and Thy mercies Towards me have refrained themselves.
Didst Thou not rend the heavens? Thou didst come down, From thy presence did mountains flow,
And Jehovah cometh down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men have builded;
In the withering of its branch it is broken off, Women are coming in setting it on fire, For it `is' not a people of understanding, Therefore pity it not doth its Maker, And its Former doth not favour it.
And when they say unto you, `Seek unto those having familiar spirits, And unto wizards, who chatter and mutter, Doth not a people seek unto its God? -- For the living unto the dead!
Then understandest thou righteousness, And judgment, and uprightness -- every good path.
Who `is' wise, and observeth these? They understand the kind acts of Jehovah!
A brutish man doth not know, And a fool understandeth not this; --
They knew not, nor do they understand, In darkness they walk habitually, Moved are all the foundations of earth.
who hath prepared his heart to seek God -- Jehovah, God of his fathers -- yet not according to the cleansing of the sanctuary;'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 14
Commentary on Psalms 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 14
Ps 14:1-7. The practical atheism and total and universal depravity of the wicked, with their hatred to the good, are set forth. Yet, as they dread God's judgments when He vindicates His people, the Psalmist prays for His delivering power.
1. Sinners are termed "fools," because they think and act contrary to right reason (Ge 34:7; Jos 7:15; Ps 39:8; 74:18, 22).
in his heart—to himself (Ge 6:12).
2. looked—in earnest enquiry.
understand—as opposed to "fool" [Ps 14:1].
3. filthy—literally, "spoiled," or, "soured," "corrupted" (Job 15:16; Ro 3:12).
4-6. Their conduct evinces indifference rather than ignorance of God; for when He appears in judgment, they are stricken with great fear.
who eat up my people—to express their beastly fury (Pr 30:14; Hab 3:14). To "call on the Lord" is to worship Him.
7. captivity—denotes any great evil.
Zion—God's abode, from which He revealed His purposes of mercy, as He now does by the Church (compare Ps 3:4; 20:2), and which He rules and in which He does all other things for the good of His people (Eph 1:22).