Comparing and Contrasting Psalms 14 and 53.

[FedByRavens]

I just recently realized that Psalms 14 and 53 are nearly identical. Has anybody done a study on why and how they differ? As well as why their both in scripture?

 

[py3ak]

The attached PDF shows the slight differences between the Psalms.
View attachment 2546

 

[FedByRavens]

Awesome! You da man brother Ruben!

 

[Bookmeister]

They are also quoted by Paul in Romans 3:10-12

 

[elnwood]

Psalm 14 has a duplicate in Book II of the Psalter, namely Ps 53. The principle difference between the two texts lies in the use of the divine name, Ps 14 using the divine name יהוה "Lord" four times, while Ps 53 consistently uses the divine title אלהים "God." There are minor textual variations in the opening verses, and more substantial differences between 14:5-7 = 53:6-7. The latter differences may indicate editorial reworking or revision at an earlier date, or more probably they may be indicative of early textual corruption, and the two versions may thus reflect two different attempts to resolve the differences in the text. Of the two versions, Ps 14 is probably the earlier, being contained in the musical director's collection and the first Davidic collection, whereas Ps 53, in the so-called "Elohistic Psalter" (see INTRODUCTION, THE COMPILING OF THE PSALTER), reflects a later stage in the development of the Psalter. The double occurrence of the psalm in the Psalter, together with the implications of the titles to Pss 14 and 53, indicate that over the course of time both psalms became used frequently in Israel's worship and they were not confined in use to the wisdom schools, despite their origin there.

Peter C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50, Word Biblical Commentary, 146.

 

[Pergamum]

The contents must be twice as important, huh?