Psalms 10:4

10:4 The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks,

“God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.” ¹ 

Psalms 14:2-3

14:2 The Lord looks down from heaven ²  at the human race, ³ 

to see if there is anyone who is wise ⁴  and seeks God. ⁵ 

14:3 Everyone rejects God; ⁶ 

they are all morally corrupt. ⁷ 

None of them does what is right, ⁸ 

not even one!

Isaiah 43:22

The Lord Rebukes His People

43:22 “But you did not call for me, O Jacob;

you did not long ⁹  for me, O Israel.

Hosea 7:7

7:7 All of them are blazing like an oven;

they devour their rulers.

All of their kings fall –

and none of them call on me!

Romans 3:11

3:11 there is no one who understands,

there is no one who seeks God.

Hebrews 2:3

2:3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him,

[10:4]  ¹ tn Heb “the wicked [one], according to the height of his nose, he does not seek, there is no God, all his thoughts.” The phrase “height of his nose” probably refers to an arrogant or snooty attitude; it likely pictures one with his nose turned upward toward the sky in pride. One could take the “wicked” as the subject of the negated verb “seek,” in which case the point is that the wicked do not “seek” God. The translation assumes that this statement, along with “there is no God,” is what the wicked man thinks to himself. In this case God is the subject of the verb “seek,” and the point is that God will not hold the wicked man accountable for his actions. Verse 13 strongly favors this interpretation. The statement “there is no God” is not a philosophical assertion that God does not exist, but rather a confident affirmation that he is unconcerned about how men live morally and ethically (see v. 11).

[14:2]  ² sn The picture of the Lord looking down from heaven draws attention to his sovereignty over the world.

[14:2]  ³ tn Heb “upon the sons of man.”

[14:2]  ⁴ tn Or “acts wisely.” The Hiphil is exhibitive.

[14:2]  ⁵ sn Anyone who is wise and seeks God refers to the person who seeks to have a relationship with God by obeying and worshiping him.

[14:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “everyone turns aside.”

[14:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “together they are corrupt.”

[14:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “there is none that does good.”

[43:22]  ⁹ tn Or “strive”; KJV, ASV, NRSV “been weary of me.”