Psalms 36

The Wicked Heart and the Fountain of Life in the LORD's Steadfast Love

wickedness speaks within the heart -> no fear of God governs the eyes -> self-flattery hides sin -> deceitful speech and evil plotting form a settled way -> the LORD's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice are praised as immeasurable -> His people take refuge under His wings and are satisfied in His house -> life and light flow from Him -> David prays for continued covenant love and protection -> evildoers are seen fallen and unable to rise

World English Bible, Public Domain

Psalms 36:1–4

Sin speaks like a prophetic word in the heart of the wicked, blinding them with self-flattery until they lose all wisdom and actively plot evil in their private thoughts.

1 A revelation is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked: “There is no fear of God before his eyes.”

2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin.

3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

4 He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn’t abhor evil.

Psalms 36:5–9

The Lord's love and faithfulness are infinite as the heavens, providing a fountain of life and a radiant light in which we find our refuge and our joy.

5 Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, you preserve man and animal.

7 How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.

8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.

9 For with you is the spring of life. In your light we will see light.

Psalms 36:10–12

Lord, continue Your love to those who know You and protect us from the proud, for the wicked are already fallen and will never rise again.

10 Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Don’t let the foot of pride come against me. Don’t let the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 There the workers of iniquity are fallen. They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

Key Terms

נְאֻם neʾum H5002
פֶּשַׁע peshaʿ H6588
רָשָׁע rashaʿ H7563
לֵב lev H3820
פַּחַד אֱלֹהִים pachad ʾelohim H6343
עַיִן ʿayin H5869
חָלַק chalaq H2505
עָוֹן ʿavon H5771
שָׂנֵא saneʾ H8130
דָּבָר davar H1697
מִרְמָה mirmah H4820
טוֹב tov H2896

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