Psalm 14:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

NIV: All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

NASB: They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

CSB: All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.

NLT: But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!

KJV: They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

NKJV: They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.

Here, David shares a sentiment later echoed by Isaiah 53:6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way." History depicts humanity beginning with fellowship with God in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). However, sin disrupted that fellowship (Genesis 3:6), and since then the human race has been on a downward path away from God. In this verse, David portrays mankind as "corrupt." This is translated from a Hebrew term, 'alach, meaning "rotten, putrid, or decayed," with an emphasis on moral perversity or depravity.

Because of this corruption, no person is capable of any deed which an omnipotent, omniscient, all-good God would consider truly "good." God created human beings to glorify Him, but since sin entered humanity, individuals have chosen to go their own way and do their own thing. Far from glorifying God, they glorify themselves.

Daniel 4:29–30 reveals that while Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his royal palace, he boasted, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" That self-glorification led to his humiliation (Daniel 4:31–33).

Psalm 14:1–3 comments on the general state of humanity. Those who reject the existence of God are described as fools. Moral corruption is widespread, and the earth if filled with evildoers who refuse to seek God. Sin has tainted everything humanity does, and everyone has turned away from God.

David begins this psalm by describing those who live as if God does not exist as "fools." From God's perspective, the entire human race has become corrupt and estranged from God. Especially heinous are the evildoers who persecute the poor and weak. However, God stands up for the righteous and subjects the wicked to the terror of His judgment. Believers find their protection in the Lord. David concludes with a bright hope: a longing for God's kingdom to arrive. At that time, the Lord will bless Israel with fortunes, and Jacob's descendants will rejoice and be glad.

This psalm and Psalm 53 are extremely similar. Romans 3:10–12 quotes from these passages. Like previous psalms, this describes David's enemy as corrupt, ignorant of God, and thoroughly evil. The psalm ends with David's prayer for God to establish the kingdom for Israel.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.