Psalms Chapter 14
Showing all 7 verses for Psalms Chapter 14.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. "
"The fool says to himself, 'There is no God.' Such people are corrupt, they do disgusting things - not one of them does good."
Living as if nothing you do ultimately matters or answers to anything is a recipe for a wasted, corrosive life - not because I'm watching to catch you out, but because that mindset tends to hollow people out from the inside.
"The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. "
"The LORD looked down from heaven at all humanity, searching to see if anyone truly understood and sought after him."
I'm not looking to catch you failing - I'm genuinely searching for real understanding and honest seeking wherever it exists, even in small amounts, even imperfectly done.
"They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. "
"Every single one has gone astray; they have all become corrupted together - not one person does good, not a single one."
None of us gets to stand entirely outside this - I'd rather you honestly recognise your own capacity to go astray than build your identity on being one of the 'good people' looking down on everyone else.
"Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. "
"Do all these evildoers not understand anything? They devour my people like it's just another meal, and never even call out to the LORD."
Notice when harming or using other people starts to feel routine, unremarkable, 'just how things are done' - that numbness is exactly the danger sign worth paying attention to in yourself.
"There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. "
"Then they were struck with great fear, because God is present among the generation of the righteous."
Arrogant confidence built on the idea that nothing matters tends to crumble the moment reality catches up with it. Don't envy that kind of false confidence - it's more brittle than it looks.
"Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. "
"You have mocked the plans and hopes of the poor person - but the LORD is his refuge."
If people ever mock you for trusting in something bigger than material success or power, that mockery doesn't make your trust foolish - it just reveals what they've chosen to value instead.
"Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. "
"Oh, how I wish salvation for Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores his people from captivity, Jacob will celebrate and Israel will be glad."
Even in the middle of despairing about how broken things seem, it's okay to keep hoping and longing for real restoration - don't let cynicism about how bad things are talk you out of hoping for better.