Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Psalms, Chapter 14תהלים 14

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Psalms 14 (7 verses in the MT) opens: [To the chief Musician, of David.] The fool has said in his heart, no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, none that doeth good. The middle of the chapter continues: Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people they eat bread, and call not upon YHWH. It closes: Oh that the salvation of Israel out of Zion! when YHWH bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Psalms 14 comprises 7 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — [To the chief Musician, of David. [To the chief Musician, of David.] The fool has said in his heart, no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, none that doeth good. YHWH looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, seek God. They are all gone aside, they are together become filthy: none that doeth good, no, not one. Have. Movement II (vv. 5-7) — There were they in great fear: for God in the generation of the righteou. There were they in great fear: for God in the generation of the righteous. You have shamed the counsel of the poor, because YHWH his refuge. Oh that the salvation of Israel out of Zion! when YHWH bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽשְׁחִ֗יתוּ הִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עֲלִילָ֗ה אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה טֽוֹב

[To the chief Musician, of David.] The fool has said in his heart, no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, none that doeth good.

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'excel'. Opens the chapter. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַexcelprep + art + Piel ptc ms · נָצַח (H5329)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorנָצַח (H5329) 'excel'.
לְדָ֫וִ֥דtoprep + N proper · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'to'.
אָ֘מַ֤רhe saidQal perf 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actאָמַר (H559) 'he said'.
נָבָ֣לfoolishAdj · נָבָל (H5036)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נָבָל (H5036) 'foolish'.
בְּ֭לִבּוֹin his heartprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · לֵב (H3820)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לֵב (H3820) 'in his heart'.
אֵ֣יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
אֱלֹהִ֑יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
הִֽשְׁחִ֗יתוּto destroyHiphil perf 3cp · שָׁחַת (H7843)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁחַת (H7843) 'to destroy'.
הִֽתְעִ֥יבוּyou shall abhorHiphil perf 3cp · תָּעַב (H8581)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actתָּעַב (H8581) 'you shall abhor'.
עֲלִילָ֗הoccasions/pretexts ofN c · עֲלִילָה (H5949)Construct chain (genitival)עֲלִילָה (H5949) 'occasions/pretexts of'.
אֵ֣יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
עֹֽשֵׂהhe didQal ptc ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
טֽוֹבgoodAdj · טוֹב (H2896)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוֹב (H2896) 'good'.
2

יְֽהוָ֗ה מִשָּׁמַיִם֮ הִשְׁקִ֪יף עַֽל בְּנֵי אָ֫דָ֥ם לִ֭רְאוֹת הֲיֵ֣שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּ֝רֵשׁ אֶת אֱלֹהִֽים

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

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'which looks down'.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
יְֽהוָ֗הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
מִשָּׁמַיִם֮the heavensprep + N com m pl abs · שָׁמַיִם (H8064)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שָׁמַיִם (H8064) 'the heavens'.
הִשְׁקִ֪יףwhich looks downHiphil perf 3ms · שָׁקַף (H8259)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actשָׁקַף (H8259) 'which looks down'.
עַֽלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
בְּנֵיthe sons ofN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'the sons of'.
אָ֫דָ֥םmanN c · אָדָם (H120)Construct chain (genitival)אָדָם (H120) 'man'.
לִ֭רְאוֹתto seeprep + Qal inf constr · רָאָה (H7200)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementרָאָה (H7200) 'to see'.
הֲיֵ֣שׁis thereinterrog. + adv. · יֵשׁ (H3426)Particle or relational elementיֵשׁ (H3426) 'is there'.
מַשְׂכִּ֑ילyou may prosperHiphil ptc ms · שָׂכַל (H7919)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorשָׂכַל (H7919) 'you may prosper'.
דֹּ֝רֵשׁcares forQal ptc ms · דָּרַשׁ (H1875)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorדָּרַשׁ (H1875) 'cares for'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
אֱלֹהִֽיםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
3

הַכֹּ֥ל סָר֮ יַחְדָּ֪ו נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּ אֵ֤ין עֹֽשֵׂה ט֑וֹב אֵ֝֗ין גַּם אֶחָֽד

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

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'he turned aside'.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
הַכֹּ֥לeverythingart + N com m sg abs · כֹּל (H3605)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)כֹּל (H3605) 'everything'.
סָר֮he turned asideQal perf 3ms · סוּר (H5493)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actסוּר (H5493) 'he turned aside'.
יַחְדָּ֪וtogetherart · יַחְדָּו (H3162)Particle or relational elementיַחְדָּו (H3162) 'together'.
נֶ֫אֱלָ֥חוּandN · אָלַח (H444)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אָלַח (H444) 'and'.
אֵ֤יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
עֹֽשֵׂהhe didQal ptc ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
ט֑וֹבgoodAdj · טוֹב (H2896)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)טוֹב (H2896) 'good'.
אֵ֝֗יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
גַּםalsoparticle · גַּם (H1571)Particle or relational elementגַּם (H1571) 'also'.
אֶחָֽדoneAdj · אֶחָד (H259)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֶחָד (H259) 'one'.
4

הֲלֹ֥א יָדְעוּ֮ כָּל פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫י אָ֥וֶן אֹכְלֵ֣י עַ֭מִּי אָ֣כְלוּ לֶ֑חֶם יְ֝הוָ֗ה לֹ֣א קָרָֽאוּ

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

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'have known'.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
הֲלֹ֥אis it notinterrog. + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'is it not'.
יָדְעוּ֮have knownQal perf 3cp · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actיָדַע (H3045) 'have known'.
כָּלallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
פֹּ֪עֲלֵ֫יdidQal ptc mp · פָּעַל (H6466)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorפָּעַל (H6466) 'did'.
אָ֥וֶןiniquityN c · אוֹן (H205)Construct chain (genitival)אוֹן (H205) 'iniquity'.
אֹכְלֵ֣יyou shall eatQal ptc mp · אָכַל (H398)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאָכַל (H398) 'you shall eat'.
עַ֭מִּיmy peopleN c · עַם (H5971)Construct chain (genitival)עַם (H5971) 'my people'.
אָ֣כְלוּateQal perf 3cp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actאָכַל (H398) 'ate'.
לֶ֑חֶםbreadN c · לֶחֶם (H3899)Construct chain (genitival)לֶחֶם (H3899) 'bread'.
יְ֝הוָ֗הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
לֹ֣אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
קָרָֽאוּand he calledQal perf 3cp · קָרָא (H7121)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actקָרָא (H7121) 'and he called'.
5

שָׁ֤ם פָּ֣חֲדוּ פָ֑חַד כִּֽי אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים בְּד֣וֹר צַדִּֽיק

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

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'and you will dread'.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
שָׁ֤םthereart · שָׁם (H8033)Particle or relational elementשָׁם (H8033) 'there'.
פָּ֣חֲדוּand you will dreadQal perf 3cp · פָּחַד (H6342)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actפָּחַד (H6342) 'and you will dread'.
פָ֑חַדthe dread of youN c · פַּחַד (H6343)Construct chain (genitival)פַּחַד (H6343) 'the dread of you'.
כִּֽיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
אֱ֝לֹהִ֗יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
בְּד֣וֹרin the generationprep + N com m sg abs · דּוֹר (H1755)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דּוֹר (H1755) 'in the generation'.
צַדִּֽיקrighteousAdj · צַדִּיק (H6662)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צַדִּיק (H6662) 'righteous'.
6

עֲצַת עָנִ֥י תָבִ֑ישׁוּ כִּ֖י יְהוָ֣ה מַחְסֵֽהוּ

You have shamed the counsel of the poor, because YHWH his refuge.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'were ashamed'.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
עֲצַתcounselN c · עֵצָה (H6098)Construct chain (genitival)עֵצָה (H6098) 'counsel'.
עָנִ֥יpoorAdj · עָנִי (H6041)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עָנִי (H6041) 'poor'.
תָבִ֑ישׁוּwere ashamedHiphil impf 2mp · בּוּשׁ (H954)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalבּוּשׁ (H954) 'were ashamed'.
כִּ֖יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
מַחְסֵֽהוּhopeN c · מַחֲסֶה (H4268)Construct chain (genitival)מַחֲסֶה (H4268) 'hope'.
7

מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשׁוּעַ֪ת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הוָה שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָֽאֵל

Oh that the salvation of Israel out of Zion! when YHWH bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'would give'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
מִ֥יwhointerrog. · מִי (H4310)Particle or relational elementמִי (H4310) 'who'.
יִתֵּ֣ןwould giveQal impf 3ms · נָתַן (H5414)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנָתַן (H5414) 'would give'.
מִצִּיּוֹן֮Zionprep + N proper · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
יְשׁוּעַ֪תthe salvation ofN c · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Construct chain (genitival)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'the salvation of'.
יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥לIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
בְּשׁ֣וּבand he returnedprep + Qal inf constr · שׁוּב (H7725)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementשׁוּב (H7725) 'and he returned'.
יְ֭הוָהYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
שְׁב֣וּתyour captivityN c · שְׁבוּת (H7622)Construct chain (genitival)שְׁבוּת (H7622) 'your captivity'.
עַמּ֑וֹhis peopleN c · עַם (H5971)Construct chain (genitival)עַם (H5971) 'his people'.
יָגֵ֥לbe gladQal impf 3ms · גִּיל (H1523)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalגִּיל (H1523) 'be glad'.
יַ֝עֲקֹ֗בJacobN · יַעֲקֹב (H3290)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יַעֲקֹב (H3290) 'Jacob'.
יִשְׂמַ֥חand you shall rejoiceQal impf 3ms · שָׂמַח (H8055)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשָׂמַח (H8055) 'and you shall rejoice'.
יִשְׂרָֽאֵלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.