Psalm 14.1, 53.1.
The New Living Translation renders Psalm 14.1 and 53.1 exactly the same:
- Psalm 14.1, 53.1 NLT
- Only fools say in their hearts,
- “There is no God.”
- They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
- not one of them does good!
It’s because Psalms 14 and 53 are actually the same psalm. David ben Jesse wrote it five centuries before Psalms got put together—and Psalms is actually made of five different psalters. The first book Ps 1-41 had it, and so did the second Ps 42-72 —so yep, it’s in there twice. For fun, you can compare the two psalms for the differences which slipped into the psalm over time. It’s kinda like different hymnals which have alternate verses to your favorite hymns. (“Amazing Grace,” fr’instance, is a bit different from the way John Newton originally wrote it.)
Differences the NLT actually muted. ’Cause it translated two different words as “actions.” Psalm 14.1 has
עֲלִילָ֗ה/alilá,
“a doing,” and Psalm 53.1 has
עָ֝֗וֶל/avél,
“an immoral deed.”
The NLT’s translators wanted to emphasize the verses’ similarities so much, they erased their differences. Which isn’t always the right route to take, but one the NLT and NIV translation committees prefer. This is why I tell people to study multiple bible translations: Y’never know what you might be missing because of the translators’ various agendas.
But I digress. Today I’m writing about the first part of the verse, which the KJV phrases thisaway:
- Psalm 14.1, 53.1 KJV
- 1A The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
It’s a verse I’ve heard quoted many, many times. Usually by Christians who wanna refer to nontheists as fools.
Frequently Christian apologists wanna use this verse as a proof text to argue in favor of God’s existence. As if quoting bible is how you prove God exists: “See, the bible says he’s real, so there.” That’s gonna work on a nontheist exactly the same as if I whipped out a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and said, “See, Oz is a real place!” You don‘t prove God exists with words; especially rude words. You prove he exists by giving ’em a God-experience. Anything else basically makes you the fool.
And I wanna back up even further and question whether this verse is even about nontheists at all. Y’might guess I would say it’s really not.
