Psalms

Chapter 36

The Transgression of the Wicked

This psalm begins with a penetrating description of wickedness as something that speaks within the sinner and leaves no room for the fear of God. It then rises into a magnificent meditation on the LORD's steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and life-giving light, before ending as a prayer that this covenant love would continue for the upright and that the proud and wicked would be kept from prevailing.

Psalm 36 sets the corruption of human evil against the immeasurable beauty of God's character. It teaches that while wickedness is inwardly self-deceived and destructive, the LORD's love and justice are vast enough to shelter, satisfy, illumine, and preserve those who know him.

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Psalms 36

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vv. 1-12

The Transgression of the Wicked

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F¹or the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD. ²For his eyes are too full of conceit ³The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; ⁴Even on his bed he plots wickedness;

⁵Your loving devotion, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, ⁶Your righteousness is like the highest mountains; ⁷How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, ⁸They feast on the abundance of Your house, ⁹For with You is the fountain of life;

¹⁰Extend Your loving devotion to those who know You, ¹¹Let not the foot of the proud come against me, ¹²There the evildoers lie fallen,

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01vv. 1-12The Transgression of the WickedDavid first exposes the inner logic of wickedness: no fear of God, flattering self-deception, deceitful speech, and deliberate plotting of evil. Against that dark portrait he celebrates the LORD's boundless loving devotion, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, protection, and abundant provision, then closes by asking that this steadfast love remain on those who know God and by foreseeing the fall of evildoers.