Psalm 14:3

Psalm 14:3, in plain English

The psalm's diagnosis gets bleaker: not just some people, but all people have turned away and become corrupted. There's no one pure enough, no one good enough to stand before a holy God on their own merit.

Why it's here

You need to understand the weight of this. The psalmist isn't being pessimistic—he's being realistic about the human condition. This creates a crisis that demands a solution, which is exactly why it matters.

Who's speaking

The psalmist, stating an uncomfortable truth about humanity's universal condition

Where it sits in the story

Paul quotes this very verse in Romans to prove that everyone needs God's grace, that nobody can earn their way to Him. This verse is the problem statement that makes the gospel necessary—and beautiful.

The scholarly reading

The result of God's inspection is universal: every human has deviated from righteousness, and there exists no exception to this corruption.

Language and setting

The threefold repetition of סָר (sar, 'turned away') emphasizes the deliberateness of rebellion. The construction—'all have turned away together (יַחְדָּו, yachdav)'—suggests not merely individual failings but a corporate, almost gravitational pull toward wickedness. The emphatic negation 'there is no one who does good, not even one' (אֵין עֹשֵׂה־טוֹב אַף־אֶחָד, ayin oseh-tov af-echad) becomes the theological crux. Augustine seized upon this verse in his anti-Pelagian polemic, arguing that the universal corruption Paul cites in Romans 3:12 derives precisely from this psalm's anthropological assessment. The Jerusalem Talmud (Sanhedrin 10:1) wrestled with apparent exceptions—righteous gentiles—but the psalmist's claim here is absolute.

Voice

The psalmist, continuing to report the divine verdict, now rendering the judgment explicit: the inspection reveals total depravity in scope, not merely degree.

Significance

This verse becomes foundational to Christian anthropology. Paul quotes it verbatim (Romans 3:12) to establish that both Jew and gentile stand equally under sin's dominion, creating the theological prerequisite for the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. It also functions within the Psalter as the darkest point before restoration—the nadir upon which hope must be rebuilt.

1The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

2The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

3All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

4Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.

5There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.

Read all of Psalm 14 — The fool says in his heart: there is no God. David looks at humanity and sees corruption — but also a remnant God will restore.