God looked down from heaven upon the children of men,.... In
Psalms 14:2, it is read, "the Lord" or "Jehovah"; in everything else there is an agreement in this verse; Psalms 14:2;
to see if there were [any] that did understand; the Targum is, "that were understanding" in the law; it doubtless means understanding in divine and spiritual things;
that did seek God; the above paraphrase is, "seeking doctrine from before the Lord".