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Psalms 36

1

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

3

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

4

He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

5

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

6

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

7

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8

They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

9

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

10

O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

11

Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

12

There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

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Psalms 36

Psalm 36 is a wisdom meditation contrasting the wickedness of evildoers with the steadfast love and justice of God, exemplifying the theological concerns of Book 2. The psalmist employs vivid imagery and direct address to God, establishing the intimate dialogue between worshiper and the divine that characterizes the psalmic tradition. The theological assertions center on God's character as both judge and redeemer, creating a comprehensive vision of divine justice and mercy integrated with human experience. The psalm reflects on both personal circumstance and communal identity, suggesting that individual faith finds validation through shared experience with the covenant community. The liturgical context indicates this psalm's function in worship where personal piety integrates with communal celebration of God's acts and attributes. The concluding movement typically affirms confidence in God's faithfulness, exemplifying the psalmic pattern of transformation through prayer and remembrance of divine acts throughout history.

Psalms 36:12

This final verse of the psalm provides a stark contrast between the fate of the evildoers who have been celebrated and condemned throughout and the ultimate security of the righteous who trust in God. The psalmist observes the downfall of the wicked with the calm certitude that their rebellion against the divine order necessarily results in their undoing, whether through direct divine judgment or the inevitable consequences of their own actions. The visual image of evildoers falling, unable to rise again, embodies the theological conviction that opposition to God's established order contains within it the seeds of its own destruction. By concluding with this observation, the psalmist reassures the faithful community that despite the apparent prosperity and power of the wicked, their ultimate trajectory leads toward irreversible decline, while the righteous remain protected by divine mercy.

Psalms 36:3

The psalmist describes the words of the wicked as deceptive and void of insight, and they no longer act wisely or do good. The verse portrays the wicked as characterized by false speech and the abandonment of any attempt at righteousness. The phrase 'no longer act wisely' suggests that the wicked have moved away from wisdom into foolishness. This verse establishes the progressive nature of wickedness: it begins in internal disorder and manifests in corrupted speech and abandonment of goodness.

Psalms 36:4

The psalmist describes how the wicked devise mischief on their beds and set themselves on a path that is not good. The imagery of plotting on beds suggests that wickedness occupies the wicked's attention even in their private moments. The phrase 'sets himself on a path' indicates deliberate choice and commitment to evil. This verse portrays wickedness as habitual and pervasive, occupying the entirety of the wicked's existence.

Psalms 36:5

The psalmist shifts from describing the wicked to celebrating God's steadfast love and faithfulness, which extend to the heavens and reach to the clouds. The phrase 'your love reaches to the heavens' emphasizes the cosmic scale and transcendent nature of God's grace. The verse establishes a sharp contrast: while the wicked are bound in internal limitation and deception, God's love extends infinitely. This shift establishes that despite the pervasiveness of wickedness, God's grace is infinitely greater.

Psalms 36:6

The psalmist declares that God's righteousness is like the mighty mountains and God's judgments are like the great deep. The imagery of mountains and deep waters suggests permanence, power, and the awesome nature of God's justice. The verse establishes that God's character is vast and immovable, providing security and stability in contrast to the chaos of human wickedness.

Psalms 36:7

The psalmist describes how precious God's steadfast love is, and how the children of humanity find refuge in the shadow of God's wings. The imagery of wings suggests protection and shelter, the gathering of the vulnerable under divine care. The phrase 'how precious is your steadfast love' expresses the psalmist's recognition of the value and rarity of God's grace. The verse establishes that despite the prevalence of wickedness, those who turn to God find secure refuge.

Psalms 36:8

The psalmist describes how those who trust in God feast on the abundance of God's house and drink from the river of God's delights. The imagery of feasting and drinking suggests satisfaction and joy that flow from God's provision. The phrase 'river of delights' suggests the continuous flow of blessing that characterizes the experience of those aligned with God. This verse portrays the abundance that comes to those who seek shelter with God.

Psalms 36:9

The psalmist affirms that with God is the fountain of life and in God's light we see light. The phrase 'fountain of life' establishes God as the source of all vitality and being, the origin from which all life flows. The affirmation that 'in your light we see light' suggests that divine illumination enables understanding and perception. This verse establishes the ultimate theological truth: God is the source and sustainer of all existence and understanding.

Psalms 36:10

The psalmist appeals to God to continue to show steadfast love to those who know God and to keep his righteousness for the upright in heart. The plea establishes that God's continued blessing is available for those who know and serve God. The verse expresses the psalmist's desire that divine grace would persist and that God would maintain fidelity toward the righteous. The psalm ends with a petition that God would continue the blessing already described.

Psalms 36:11

The psalmist's prayer that divine mercy and justice pursue him represents a paradoxical theological vision where the attributes of God that terrify the wicked become instruments of protection and vindication for the righteous. This verse reverses the traditional understanding of pursuit, where God's justice ordinarily chases down evildoers; here it becomes the benevolent shield of the upright who have oriented their lives toward truth and covenant faithfulness. The parallelism between mercy and justice suggests these divine attributes are not opposed but complementary aspects of God's saving work, each essential to establishing right order and protecting the vulnerable. The image of these attributes pursuing the faithful conveys active, divinely initiated protection rather than passive safety, indicating God's vigilant care over those who take refuge in Him.

Psalms 36:2

The psalmist describes how the wicked flatter themselves in their eyes, unable to recognize their own guilt or abhor their wickedness. The phrase 'flatter themselves in their eyes' suggests self-deception and the refusal to see reality clearly. The verse portrays the wicked as trapped in delusion, incapable of perceiving their own moral condition. This diagnosis establishes that wickedness involves not merely external transgression but internal blindness to one's own guilt.

Psalms 36:1

The psalmist opens with a statement about the transgression of the wicked in the depths of their heart, indicating that wickedness originates in the internal disposition and fundamental orientation away from God. The phrase 'in the depths of their heart' suggests that the problem is not superficial but rooted in the innermost being. The verse establishes that the wicked lack any fear or reverence of God, indicating a fundamental disorder in their relationship to the divine.