1Para el director del coro. Según Mahalat. Un salmo (masquil) de David. Solo los tontos se dicen a sí mismos, “Dios no existe”. Son completamente inmorales, cometen pecados terribles, ni uno solo de ellos hace algo bueno.
2Dios observa desde los cielos para ver si alguien entiende, si alguien quiere venir a él.
3Todos han caído, son totalmente depravados; ninguno hace el bien, ni siquiera uno.
4“¿Nunca aprenderá este pueblo que hace el mal? Consumen a mi pueblo como si estuvieran comiendo pan, y se niegan a invocar mi nombre”.
5Se aterrorizarán por completo, tendrán más miedo del que nunca han tenido. Dios esparcirá los huesos de los que pelean contra ti; los derrotarás porque Dios los ha rechazado.
6¡Si tan solo la salvación de Dios viniera de Sión! Cuando Dios restaure a su pueblo, el pueblo de Jacob celebrará, y el pueblo de Israel se alegrará.
📖 Chapter study
Summary
Nearly identical to Psalm 14, this psalm describes the universal corruption of humanity living as though God did not exist, and expresses a longing for the salvation that will come out of Zion.
Explanation
This psalm repeats almost word for word Psalm 14, but with one notable difference: it uses the generic name 'Elohim' (God) instead of the personal name 'Yahweh/LORD,' suggesting it belonged to a different collection of psalms (the so-called 'Elohistic Psalter,' which avoids the personal divine name) later incorporated into the book. The repetition of the same psalm in two different places suggests it was considered important enough to be preserved in two separate compilation traditions. Its message remains relevant: the folly of living day to day as though God did not matter, even without openly denying Him.
Fun facts
- This psalm is nearly identical to Psalm 14, but replaces God's personal name (Yahweh) with the generic term 'Elohim' — a pattern that characterizes Psalms 42-83, known as the 'Elohistic Psalter.'
- This duplication is one of the pieces of evidence scholars use to argue that the book of Psalms was formed by combining smaller, independent collections before reaching its final form.