Psalms 14:4

14:4 All those who behave wickedly 1  do not understand – 2 

those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,

and do not call out to the Lord.

Psalms 28:5

28:5 For they do not understand the Lord’s actions,

or the way he carries out justice. 3 

The Lord 4  will permanently demolish them. 5 

Psalms 39:4

39:4 “O Lord, help me understand my mortality

and the brevity of life! 6 

Let me realize how quickly my life will pass! 7 

Psalms 53:4

53:4 All those who behave wickedly 8  do not understand 9  –

those who devour my people as if they were eating bread,

and do not call out to God.

1 tn Heb “all the workers of wickedness.” See Pss 5:5; 6:8.

2 tn Heb “Do they not understand?” The rhetorical question (rendered in the translation as a positive affirmation) expresses the psalmist’s amazement at their apparent lack of understanding. This may refer to their lack of moral understanding, but it more likely refers to their failure to anticipate God’s defense of his people (see vv. 5-7).

3 tn Heb “or the work of his hands.” In this context “the Lord’s actions” and “the work of his hands” probably refer to the way he carries out justice by vindicating the godly and punishing the wicked. (Note the final line of the verse, which refers to divine judgment. See also Ps 92:4-7.) Evil men do not “understand” God’s just ways; they fail to realize he will protect the innocent. Consequently they seek to harm the godly, as if they believe they will never be held accountable for their actions.

4 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord, who is referred to in the two immediately preceding lines) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

5 tn Heb “will tear them down and not rebuild them.” The ungodly are compared to a structure that is permanently demolished.

6 tn Heb “Cause me to know, O Lord, my end; and the measure of my days, what it is!”

7 tn Heb “Let me know how transient I am!”

8 tn Heb “the workers of wickedness.” See Pss 5:5; 6:8. Ps 14:4 adds כֹּל (kol, “all of”) before “workers of wickedness.”

9 tn Heb “Do they not understand?” The rhetorical question expresses the psalmist’s amazement at their apparent lack of understanding. This may refer to their lack of moral understanding, but it more likely refers to their failure to anticipate God’s defense of his people (see vv. 5-6).