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They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/14.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/14.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/14.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/14.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people <i>as</i> they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/14.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people <i>as</i> they eat bread, And do not call on the LORD?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/14.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Do all the workers of injustice not know, Who devour my people <i>as</i> they eat bread, <i>And</i> do not call upon the LORD?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/14.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Do all the workers of wickedness not know, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the Lord?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/14.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Do all the workers of wickedness not know, Who eat up my people <i>as</i> they eat bread, <i>And</i> do not call upon the Lord?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/14.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Do all the workers of iniquity not know, Who eat up my people <i>as</i> they eat bread, <i>And</i> do not call upon Yahweh?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/14.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Have all the workers of wickedness <i>and</i> injustice no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the LORD?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/14.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/14.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Will evildoers never understand? They consume My people as they consume bread; they do not call on the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/14.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And call not upon Jehovah?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/14.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Won't you evil people learn? You refuse to pray, and you gobble up the LORD's people. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/14.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/14.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Are all those troublemakers, those who devour my people as if they were devouring food, so ignorant that they do not call on the LORD?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/14.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Don't they know?" asks the LORD. "Are all these evildoers ignorant? They live by robbing my people, and they never pray to me." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/14.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Will those who do evil ever learn? They devour my people like they devour bread, and never call on the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/14.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/14.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />All those who behave wickedly do not understand--those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/14.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Have all evildoers no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread? They do not call on the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/14.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/14.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on Yahweh? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/14.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Have all working iniquity not known? Those consuming my people have eaten bread, "" They have not called YHWH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/14.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Have all working iniquity not known? Those consuming my people have eaten bread, Jehovah they have not called.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/14.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Did not the workers of vanity know? eating my people they ate bread; they called not Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/14.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people as they eat bread ? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/14.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 13:7>Will they never learn: all those who work iniquity, who devour my people like a meal of bread?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/14.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Will these evildoers never learn? They devour my people as they devour bread; they do not call upon the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/14.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/14.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />They recognized not the workers of iniquity, who devour my people as one eats bread; and they called not upon the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/14.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />No workers of evil have awareness; they consume my people as eating bread, and they have not called upon LORD JEHOVAH.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/14.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Shall not all the workers of iniquity know it, Who eat up My people as they eat bread, And call not upon the LORD?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/14.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Will not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people as they would eat bread? they have not called upon the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/14-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=1179" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/14.htm">The Fool Says There is No God</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6466.htm" title="6466: pō·‘ă·lê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- Do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, especially to practise.">Will the workers</a> <a href="/hebrew/205.htm" title="205: ’ā·wen (N-ms) -- From an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant; strictly nothingness; also trouble. Vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol.">of iniquity</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: hă·lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">never</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yā·ḏə·‘ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">learn?</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ’ō·ḵə·lê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">They devour</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am·mî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">my people</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ’ā·ḵə·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">like</a> <a href="/hebrew/3899.htm" title="3899: le·ḥem (N-ms) -- Bread, food. From lacham; food, especially bread, or grain.">bread;</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">they refuse</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: qā·rā·’ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">to call upon</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-10.htm">Romans 3:10-12</a></span><br />As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-6.htm">Isaiah 53:6</a></span><br />We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-2.htm">Micah 3:2-3</a></span><br />You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-25.htm">Jeremiah 10:25</a></span><br />Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, and on the families that do not call on Your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have consumed him and finished him off; they have devastated his homeland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-6.htm">Isaiah 64:6</a></span><br />Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/30-14.htm">Proverbs 30:14</a></span><br />there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-23.htm">Matthew 7:23</a></span><br />Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/3-10.htm">1 John 3:10</a></span><br />By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-4.htm">Isaiah 1:4</a></span><br />Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-27.htm">Ezekiel 22:27</a></span><br />Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-1.htm">Hosea 4:1-2</a></span><br />Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/3-3.htm">Zephaniah 3:3-4</a></span><br />Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. / Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-25.htm">Matthew 23:25</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a></span><br />You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-2.htm">2 Timothy 3:2-4</a></span><br />For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, / traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not on the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">Have</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/94-8.htm">Psalm 94:8,9</a></b></br> Understand, ye brutish among the people: and <i>ye</i> fools, when will ye be wise? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/5-13.htm">Isaiah 5:13</a></b></br> Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because <i>they have</i> no knowledge: and their honourable men <i>are</i> famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/27-11.htm">Isaiah 27:11</a></b></br> When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, <i>and</i> set them on fire: for it <i>is</i> a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.</p><p class="hdg">eat up</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/10-25.htm">Jeremiah 10:25</a></b></br> Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/8-4.htm">Amos 8:4</a></b></br> Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/3-2.htm">Micah 3:2,3</a></b></br> Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; … </p><p class="hdg">and</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/79-6.htm">Psalm 79:6</a></b></br> Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/21-15.htm">Job 21:15</a></b></br> What <i>is</i> the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/27-10.htm">Job 27:10</a></b></br> Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/42-11.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/job/9-22.htm">Consuming</a> <a href="/job/24-2.htm">Devour</a> <a href="/job/42-11.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/job/31-39.htm">Eaten</a> <a href="/psalms/12-8.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/psalms/5-5.htm">Evildoers</a> <a href="/job/40-20.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/10-7.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/job/34-4.htm">Learn</a> <a href="/psalms/10-17.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/psalms/10-15.htm">Wickedness</a> <a href="/psalms/6-8.htm">Workers</a> <a href="/psalms/5-5.htm">Working</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/35-16.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/psalms/18-8.htm">Consuming</a> <a href="/psalms/18-8.htm">Devour</a> <a href="/psalms/22-26.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/psalms/22-29.htm">Eaten</a> <a href="/psalms/15-3.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/psalms/14-6.htm">Evildoers</a> <a href="/psalms/17-12.htm">Food</a> <a href="/psalms/18-23.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/psalms/53-4.htm">Learn</a> <a href="/psalms/16-11.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/psalms/17-3.htm">Wickedness</a> <a href="/psalms/28-3.htm">Workers</a> <a href="/psalms/15-2.htm">Working</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 14</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/14-1.htm">David describes a natural man</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/14-4.htm">He convinces the wicked by the light of their conscience</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/14-7.htm">He glories in the salvation of God</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/14.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/14.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Will the workers of iniquity never learn?</b><br>This phrase questions the persistent ignorance and moral blindness of those who commit evil acts. In biblical context, "workers of iniquity" refers to individuals who actively engage in sinful behavior, often in defiance of God's laws. The rhetorical question implies a sense of frustration and disbelief at their continued rebellion. This theme is echoed in other scriptures, such as <a href="/proverbs/1-22.htm">Proverbs 1:22</a>, which speaks of fools who hate knowledge. The phrase suggests a moral and spiritual dullness, highlighting the need for divine intervention to open their eyes to truth.<p><b>They devour my people like bread;</b><br>This imagery of devouring suggests a predatory and consuming nature of the wicked towards the righteous. In ancient Near Eastern culture, bread was a staple food, symbolizing sustenance and daily life. The comparison indicates that the oppression and exploitation of God's people are as routine and thoughtless to the wicked as eating bread. This reflects the historical context of Israel's enemies who often sought to destroy or subjugate them, as seen in the repeated invasions and captivities. The phrase also foreshadows the persecution of believers, a theme that continues into the New Testament, where Jesus warns of persecution in <a href="/john/15-18.htm">John 15:18-20</a>.<p><b>they refuse to call upon the LORD.</b><br>This refusal signifies a deliberate rejection of God and His authority. In the biblical narrative, calling upon the LORD is an act of worship, dependence, and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. The refusal to do so indicates a hardened heart and a willful choice to live independently of God's guidance and provision. This is reminiscent of the Israelites' repeated cycles of rebellion and repentance throughout the Old Testament, as seen in the Book of Judges. The phrase underscores the spiritual pride and self-sufficiency that leads to downfall, contrasting with the humility and faithfulness that God desires, as exemplified by figures like King David and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who perfectly called upon and obeyed the Father.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/w/workers_of_iniquity.htm">Workers of Iniquity</a></b><br>This term refers to those who commit evil acts and live in opposition to God's will. In the context of <a href="/bsb/psalms/14.htm">Psalm 14</a>, they are characterized by their lack of understanding and their oppression of God's people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/my_people.htm">My People</a></b><br>This phrase refers to the people of God, often understood as the Israelites in the Old Testament context. They are depicted as victims of the wicked's actions.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is the object of true worship and the one whom the wicked refuse to call upon.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_nature_of_wickedness.htm">Understanding the Nature of Wickedness</a></b><br>The "workers of iniquity" are characterized by their refusal to acknowledge God. This highlights the spiritual blindness that accompanies sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_ignoring_god.htm">The Consequences of Ignoring God</a></b><br>The refusal to call upon the LORD leads to moral decay and societal harm, as seen in the devouring of God's people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_calling_on_the_lord.htm">The Importance of Calling on the LORD</a></b><br>True wisdom and understanding begin with seeking God. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a life of prayer and dependence on Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_care_for_his_people.htm">God's Care for His People</a></b><br>Despite the oppression by the wicked, God is aware of the plight of His people and will ultimately bring justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_as_god's_people_in_a_fallen_world.htm">Living as God's People in a Fallen World</a></b><br>Believers are called to stand firm in their faith and trust in God's deliverance, even when surrounded by those who reject Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_14.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 14</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_or_what_is_god.htm">Who or what is God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_the_bible_mention_vampires.htm">Does the Bible mention vampires?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_romans_4_6-8_conflict_with_judgment.htm">In Romans 4:6-8, does the idea of sin not being counted against believers conflict with other biblical passages that emphasize judgment and accountability?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/if_god_is_omnipresent,_why_'far'_from_wicked.htm">Proverbs 15:29: If God is omnipresent, how can He be 'far' from anyone, specifically the wicked?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/14.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?</span>--<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>are they so senseless as not to perceive the consequences of their wrong-doing? or if we point the verb as the LXX. and Vulg., "shall they not know?" <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>they are sure to find out <span class= "ital">to </span>what their wickedness is leading them.<p><span class= "bld">Who eat up.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">eating my people, they have eaten bread; on Jehovah they have not called, </span>which is usually explained, as in Authorised Version, "to devour God's people has been as usual and as regular as the daily meal." Another rendering is "whilst eating my people they have eaten bread, regardless of Jehovah," <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>they have gone on in their security eating and drinking, with no thought of the vengeance preparing for them by the God of the oppressed race. Some, however, prefer to divide the two clauses, "Ah, they shall see--all the workers of iniquity who eat my people--they eat bread (<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>live) regardless of Jehovah." This makes a better parallelism. A comparison with <a href="/context/micah/3-3.htm" title="Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.">Micah 3:3-4</a>, suggests that this verse of the psalm was a proverbial saying. (For the image, comp. <a href="/jeremiah/10-25.htm" title="Pour out your fury on the heathen that know you not, and on the families that call not on your name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.">Jeremiah 10:25</a>; and Homer's "people-devouring kings.")<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/14.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?</span> The exclamation is put in the mouth of God. Can it be possible that none of these evil-doers is aware of the results of evil-doing? Do they think to escape Divine retribution? The "wonder expresses the magnitude of their folly" (Hengstenberg). <span class="cmt_word">Who eat up my people as they eat bread</span>. Reducing men to poverty, robbing them, and devouring their substance, is called, in Scripture, devouring the men themselves (see <a href="/proverbs/30-14.htm">Proverbs 30:14</a>; <a href="/isaiah/3-14.htm">Isaiah 3:14</a>; <a href="/micah/3-3.htm">Micah 3:3</a>). Those who are plundered and despoiled are compared to "bread" in <a href="/numbers/14-2.htm">Numbers 14:2</a>. The Homeric <span class="greek">δημοβόρος βασιλεὺς</span>, adduced by Dr. Kay, is an instance of the same metaphor. <span class="cmt_word">And call not upon the Lord</span>. This might have seemed scarcely to need mention, since "how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?" (<a href="/romans/10-14.htm">Romans 10:14</a>). But it connects them definitely with the atheists of ver. 1. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/14-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Will the workers</span><br /><span class="heb">פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫י</span> <span class="translit">(pō·‘ă·lê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6466.htm">Strong's 6466: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make, to practise</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of iniquity</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֥וֶן</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·wen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_205.htm">Strong's 205: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol</span><br /><br /><span class="word">never</span><br /><span class="heb">הֲלֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(hă·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">learn?</span><br /><span class="heb">יָדְעוּ֮</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ḏə·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><br /><span class="word">They devour</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹכְלֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·ḵə·lê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my people</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֭מִּי</span> <span class="translit">(‘am·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[like]</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֣כְלוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḵə·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">bread;</span><br /><span class="heb">לֶ֑חֶם</span> <span class="translit">(le·ḥem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3899.htm">Strong's 3899: </a> </span><span class="str2">Food, bread, grain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they refuse</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to call upon</span><br /><span class="heb">קָרָֽאוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(qā·rā·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> </span><span class="str2">To call, proclaim, read</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְ֝הוָ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/14-4.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/14-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 14:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 14:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/14-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 14:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 14:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>