Psalm 14 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Psalm 14
The fool and the hope of Zion
Verse 14:1 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[14:1] For the director. Of David.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They have acted corruptly; they have made their deeds abominable;
there is no one who does good.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[13:1] For the end. A psalm of David.
A fool said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They acted corruptly and became abominable in their practices;
there is no one who does kindness; there is not even one.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Both move from the singular fool to plural wrongdoers. Greek explicitly names a psalm and adds there is not even one to this verse’s conclusion.
Verse 14:2 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[14:2] YHWH looked down from heaven upon the sons of humankind,
to see whether there is anyone who understands,
anyone who seeks God.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[13:2] The Lord looked down from heaven upon the sons of humankind,
to see whether there is anyone who understands or seeks God.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both describe God’s search for an understanding, God-seeking person; Greek expressly coordinates the descriptions with or.
Verse 14:3 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[14:3] All have turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good, not even one.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[13:3] All turned aside; together they became useless;
there is no one who does kindness, not even one.
Their throat is an opened grave;
with their tongues they practiced deceit.
The venom of asps is under their lips;
their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
brokenness and misery are in their ways,
and they did not know a way of peace.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: The accessed Greek publisher text includes this entire extended indictment within 13:3; Hebrew ends after not even one. Every additional Greek clause is retained, without claims about an unconsulted apparatus. Saints: Paul’s scriptural citation sequence in Romans 3:12–18 contains the corresponding Greek lines; the actual SBLGNT text was compared directly. This establishes the verbal correspondence, not the historical direction by which the longer psalm text developed. [SBL-ROM-PS]
Verse 14:4 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[14:4] Do all the workers of wickedness not know,
those who devour my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon YHWH?
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[13:4] Will all those who practice lawlessness not know?
Those who devour my people as a meal of bread did not call upon the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both expose oppressors who consume the people like bread and fail to invoke God; Greek explicitly frames knowing as future.
Verse 14:5 Divergent
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[14:5] There they were seized with dread,
for God is with the righteous generation.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[13:5] There they cowered in fear where there was no fear,
for God is with a righteous generation.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek adds where there was no fear. Both ground the scene in God’s presence among the righteous generation.
Verse 14:6 Different
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[14:6] You put the afflicted person’s counsel to shame,
but YHWH is his refuge.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[13:6] You put a poor man’s counsel to shame,
because the Lord is his hope.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew refuge and Greek hope offer different images of dependence; Hebrew ki is taken contrastively here, whereas Greek explicitly gives because.
Verse 14:7 Similar
Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[14:7] O that Israel’s salvation would come from Zion!
When YHWH restores the fortunes of His people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[13:7] Who will give Israel’s salvation from Zion?
When the Lord turns back His people’s captivity,
let Jacob exult and let Israel rejoice.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The hope for Israel’s restoration from Zion agrees. Hebrew’s restoration idiom permits fortunes or captivity; Greek explicitly names captivity and ends with exhortations to rejoice.