David begins with a description of practical atheism. Three words for "fool" in Hebrew all relate to moral orientation rather than intellectual beliefs. This denial of God isn't philosophical atheism, but rather, pragmatic deism. The fool, therefore, is anyone who lives as if God doesn't exist. (v. 1) For this reason, instead of the word "fool," one commentator chose the word, "scoundrel."

And, how bad off is the world of men? So bad that when God opens the window of heaven and peers down, not even divine omniscience is able to find a single person seeking after God. (v. 2) God looks down to see if anyone is looking up.