Discovery BoxPsalms 14:2-5 
Context14:2 The Lord looks down from heaven 1 at the human race, 2
to see if there is anyone who is wise 3 and seeks God. 4
they are all morally corrupt. 6
None of them does what is right, 7
not even one!
14:4 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 the Lord.
14:5 They are absolutely terrified, 10
for God defends the godly. 11
1 sn The picture of the
2 tn Heb “upon the sons of man.”
3 tn Or “acts wisely.” The Hiphil is exhibitive.
4 sn Anyone who is wise and seeks God refers to the person who seeks to have a relationship with God by obeying and worshiping him.
5 tn Heb “everyone turns aside.”
6 tn Heb “together they are corrupt.”
7 tn Heb “there is none that does good.”
8 tn Heb “all the workers of wickedness.” See Pss 5:5; 6:8.
9 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).
10 tn Heb “there they are afraid [with] fear.” The perfect verbal form is probably used in a rhetorical manner; the psalmist describes the future demise of the oppressors as if it were already occurring. The adverb שָׁם (sham, “there”) is also used here for dramatic effect, as the psalmist envisions the wicked standing in fear at a spot that is this vivid in his imagination (BDB 1027 s.v.). The cognate accusative following the verb emphasizes the degree of their terror.
11 tn Heb “for God is with a godly generation.” The Hebrew noun דּוֹר (dor, “generation”) refers here to the general class of people who are characterized by godliness. See BDB 190 s.v. for other examples where “generation” refers to a class of people.
