Psalm 14 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Psalm 14 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

(14:1-3) "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."
Atheists are fools who never do anything good. According to Jesus (Mt.5:22), the psalmist is in danger of hell for uttering the word fool. Is is OK to call someone a fool?
(14:2-3) "There is none that doth good, no, not one."
Does anyone ever do anything good?
The definition of good in the Bible is doing what you were created to do: fulfilling your designed purpose. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism has it:

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.

We were created to love God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-39). If we do not love God, we do not conform to our created purpose.
On the use of the word fool, see Matthew 5:22.
On doing good, see John 5:29.

2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.

5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.