Psalms 14:3

14:3 Everyone rejects God;

they are all morally corrupt.

None of them does what is right,

not even one!

Psalms 32:11

32:11 Rejoice in the Lord and be happy, you who are godly!

Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!

Psalms 53:3

53:3 Everyone rejects God;

they are all morally corrupt.

None of them does what is right,

not even one!

Psalms 64:10

64:10 The godly will rejoice in the Lord

and take shelter in him.

All the morally upright will boast.

Psalms 140:13

140:13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name;

the morally upright will live in your presence.

Psalms 11:2

11:2 For look, the wicked 10  prepare 11  their bows, 12 

they put their arrows on the strings,

to shoot in the darkness 13  at the morally upright. 14 

Psalms 33:1

Psalm 33 15 

33:1 You godly ones, shout for joy because of the Lord!

It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise.


tn Heb “everyone turns aside.”

tn Heb “together they are corrupt.”

tn Heb “there is none that does good.”

tn Heb “all [you] pure of heart.” The “heart” is here viewed as the seat of one’s moral character and motives. The “pure of heart” are God’s faithful followers who trust in and love the Lord and, as a result, experience his deliverance (see Pss 7:10; 11:2; 36:10; 64:10; 94:15; 97:11).

tn Heb “all of it turns away.” Ps 14:1 has הָכֹּל (hakkol) instead of כֻּלּוֹ, and סָר (sar, “turn aside”) instead of סָג (sag, “turn away”).

tn Heb “together they are corrupt.”

tn Heb “there is none that does good.”

tn Heb “upright in heart.”

tn That is, about the Lord’s accomplishments on their behalf.

10 tn In the psalms the “wicked” (רְשָׁעִים, rÿshaim) are typically proud, practical atheists (Ps 10:2, 4, 11) who hate God’s commands, commit sinful deeds, speak lies and slander (Ps 50:16-20), and cheat others (Ps 37:21). They oppose God and threaten his people (Ps 3:8).

11 tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form depicts the enemies’ hostile action as underway.

12 tn Heb “a bow.”

13 sn In the darkness. The enemies’ attack, the precise form of which is not indicated, is compared here to a night ambush by archers; the psalmist is defenseless against this deadly attack.

14 tn Heb “pure of heart.” The “heart” is here viewed as the seat of one’s moral character and motives. The “pure of heart” are God’s faithful followers who trust in and love the Lord and, as a result, experience his deliverance (see Pss 7:10; 32:11; 36:10; 64:10; 94:15; 97:11).

15 sn Psalm 33. In this hymn the psalmist praises the Lord as the sovereign creator and just ruler of the world who protects and vindicates those who fear him.