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Christian prayer

Psalm 14

Psalm 14 in its original Hebrew, with its meaning.

  • 7 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible

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  1. 1

    לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽשְׁחִ֗יתוּ הִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עֲלִילָ֗ה אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה־טֽוֹב׃

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. 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.

  2. 2

    יְֽהוָ֗ה מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל־בְּנֵי־אָ֫דָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵשׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים׃

    The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

  3. 3

    הַכֹּ֥ל סָר֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם־אֶחָֽד׃

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

  4. 4

    הֲלֹ֥א יָדְעוּ֮ כָּל־פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫י אָ֥וֶן אֹכְלֵ֣י עַ֭מִּי אָ֣כְלוּ לֶ֑חֶם יְ֝הוָ֗ה לֹ֣א קָרָֽאוּ׃

    Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

  5. 5

    שָׁ֤ם ׀ פָּ֣חֲדוּ פָ֑חַד כִּֽי־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים בְּד֣וֹר צַדִּֽיק׃

    There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

  6. 6

    עֲצַת־עָנִ֥י תָבִ֑ישׁוּ כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה מַחְסֵֽהוּ׃

    Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

  7. 7

    מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשׁוּעַ֪ת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הוָה שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָֽאֵל׃

    Oh 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.

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 14 during personal prayer or worship when reflecting on wrongdoing and the need for God's mercy. It can also give words to prayer when injustice feels overwhelming, turning lament toward hope in God.

  • Personal prayer
  • Worship
  • Seeking mercy
  • Facing injustice

Where it comes from

Psalm 14 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament of the Bible. Its heading associates it with David. It laments human corruption and ends with a longing for God's deliverance and the restoration of his people.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 14

How many verses does Psalm 14 have?

Psalm 14 has 7 verses.

What does Psalm 14 mean?

It describes the folly of living as though God does not matter and laments widespread wrongdoing. It also affirms God's care for the righteous and expresses hope for deliverance.

Who wrote Psalm 14?

Its biblical heading associates it with David, and it is traditionally known as a psalm of David.

What language was Psalm 14 written in?

Psalm 14 was written in Hebrew. The original text shown here is Hebrew, alongside its meaning.

How long does Psalm 14 take to recite?

It can be recited in under a minute, though a reflective reading may take longer.

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