Psalms 14
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm says that people who ignore God do wrong, and that this is true of everyone. God looks down from heaven to find anyone who is wise and looking for him. The psalm says the people who hurt the poor will be afraid, because God stays close to those who do right. It ends with a wish that help for Israel would come and the people would be glad again.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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.
1The fool says to himself, "There is no God." People like that are rotten inside. They do ugly things. Not one of them does good.
"Fool" here does not mean someone who is not smart. It means someone who lives as if God is not there.
2The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
2The LORD looked down from heaven at all people. He wanted to see if anyone was wise. He looked for anyone who was looking for him.
3They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
3They have all turned away from him. Every one of them has gone bad. No one does good. Not even one person.
4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
4Do these people who do wrong never learn anything? They gobble up my people the way you gobble up bread. And they never call out to the LORD.
5There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
5Then those people were filled with fear. That is because God stays with the people who do right.
6Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
6You laugh at the plans of poor people who have no help. But the LORD is their safe place.
The KJV says "shamed the counsel of the poor." "Counsel" means their plans. "Refuge" means a safe place to hide.
7Oh 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.
7How I wish that help for Israel would come out of Zion! One day the LORD will bring his people home again. Then Jacob will sing, and Israel will be glad.
Zion is the hill in Jerusalem where God's temple stood. "Jacob" and "Israel" are two names for the same people.
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