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Psalm 14 & 53: Don't be a fool

Ryan Boyer
05/04/25 - Sun PM

Psalms 14 and 53 are nearly identical. There are a few differences. Both refer to God seven times, but Ps. 14 uses the divine name, Yahweh, four of those seven times, where Ps. 53 uses Elohim for all of them. Psalm 14:3 says “all turned aside” where Ps. 53:3 says “all fallen away.” Most notably, most of Ps. 14:5-6 is different Ps. 53:5 and they each have their own emphasis. Despite their differences, I’m going to treat them together as a single message from God.

As for why two nearly identical psalms are included, I don’t know, but here’s a guess. The heading of Ps. 52 says, “A maskil of David, when Doeg, the Edomite, came and told Saul, ‘David has come to the house of Ahimelech.’” You can find that story in 1 Sam. 21-22. The heading of Ps. 54 says, “A maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, ‘Is not David hiding among us?’” You can find that story in 1 Sam. 26:1. Ps. 53 begins, “The fool says in his heart…” and the Hebrew word “fool” is nabal. The story of Abigail and Nabal is in 1 Sam. 25, so maybe Ps. 14 was added between Ps. 52 and 54 to fill out David’s story a little better.

Verses 1-4 in both psalms include ten descriptions of “the fool.” In the Bible, the fool is not primarily a reference to his being dumb, although in our psalms he does not have understanding or knowledge). Rather, the fool is one who rejects God and lives as if there is no God (e.g. Is. 32:5-7). Here is a list of the ten descriptions of the fool:

1. He says, “There is no God.” (v. 1a)

It’s hard to imagine that a person from Biblical times did not believe in any god at all, so this is mostly likely a description of practical atheism. God does not matter to the fool in terms of day-to-day living. He can’t see God acting in the world or in his life. As far as the fool is concerned, there had just as well not be a God.

2. They are corrupt (this word is used in vv. 1b, 3a)

The Dictionary of Biblical Literature says this word pertains to an object being in a ruined state, implying the object is now useless…ruined morally and so be in an impure state…”

3. They do abominable things (v. 1b)

At the beginning of v. 2, God is looking to SEE what he can find. The fool thinks that he can’t be seen by God (cf. Ps. 10:2, 11, 14). What God does see is the next two descriptions:

4. They don’t understand (v. 2b)

5. They don’t seek after God (v. 2c). Why would they if they say “There is no God!”

5. They have turned aside (v. 3a). Psalm 53 says, “They have fallen away.” The idea behind both of these is that they are unfaithful.

7. They have no knowledge (v. 4a)

8. They are evildoers (v. 4a)

9. They eat up God’s people as easily as they eat up bread (v. 4b). See Mic. 3:1-3 for another description of evil people who “eat up” the poor.

10. They do not call upon the Lord (v. 4c). Again, why would they if they say, “There is not God?”

In short, the fool does not acknowledge God, or seek him out, or call upon him. He has not spiritual understanding or knowledge, and he is morally corrupt, sinful, and hard on other people.

Throughout these four verses, there are four references to this being a universal problem. Psalm 14:1 says, “there is none who does good.” Verses 2-3 says that God can’t find anyone and that they ALL have turned aside/fallen away. Verse 3 says, “there is none who does good, not even one.” The Hebrew word, ayin, represents the concept of non-existence” or “nothingness.” It is found four times in these verses (v. 1 - “there is no”, there is none, v. 3 - “there is none”, and “not”). The point is that just as the fool says there is no God, so God looks down from heaven and says there are no good people.

This is why Paul quotes vv. 1-3 in Rom. 3:10-12. His argument in that context is that EVERYONE is a sinner before God - Jews and Greeks. A few verses later, he will say, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (v. 23). When we read about the fool in these verses, we are not to point our fingers at all those other sinners out there who live as if there is no God. Rather, we are to remember that every single one of us has lived like a fool, some of us more than others, and can rightly be described as sinful and lost.

When we get to Ps. 14:5-6 and Ps. 53:5 we get to see the fool’s end. This is where the text goes in different directions. There are four total things we can see when we combine both of the psalms. Psalm 14:5-6 emphasizes salvation for God’s people (as if they have been the victims of the fool). The fool will fear because God is with his people (presence), and the fool lives as if there is no God and shames those who make God their refuge (protection). In other words, some ignore God, and some completely rely upon him. Psalm 53:5 emphasizes God’s judgement on the fool. They will find great terror. This is often how God works against his enemies (e.g. Ex. 23:27; Deut. 2:25; 11:25), but also, this an ironic end. Why be afraid if “there is no God?” Finally, God will scatter their bones…for God has rejected them. They rejected God, so God will reject them.

The last verse of each psalm is the same, although it’s v. 7 in Ps. 14 and v. 6 in Ps. 53. It is not worded as a question, or a plea, but ultimately it is one. It is the wish, or the hope of the author. The main point of this end is that the opposite of the fool described above is one who hope and relies entirely on God for salvation and everything else. Romans 3:21-26 would be a fitting end to this hope for salvation. I have acted like a fool and lived and made choices as if God is not real. Now, thankfully, faith in Jesus is my only way out. Faith is the opposite of foolishness.

I have been studying these psalms with an eye towards growing in my prayer. My prayers next week will follow from the lessons I’ve learned in this psalm. First, God, help me to SEE you in all things—that you are present, active, living, and involved in the world and in my life. I don’t want to be a fool. Second, Give me a heart to seek you and know you (understanding and knowledge that the fool does not have). Third, give me a heart and desire to live entirely for you even when the fool mocks me for it.