Psalms 36:1-12·~1 min

The Transgression of the Wicked

The psalm opens by describing wickedness as an inward oracle within the sinner, where there is no fear of God before the eyes. Self-flattery blinds the person to guilt, speech becomes deceitful and empty of wisdom, and even lying in bed becomes an occasion to plot evil and refuse to reject what is wrong.

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;

Against that darkness David lifts his eyes to the LORD, whose loving devotion reaches to the heavens, whose faithfulness spans the skies, and whose righteousness and judgments are vast and unsearchable. Under the shadow of God's wings both man and beast find refuge, his people feast on the abundance of his house, drink from the river of his delights, and live in the light that comes from the fountain of life that is with him.

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;

The psalm ends as a prayer that God's loving devotion and righteousness would continue toward those who know him and are upright in heart. David asks to be spared the encroaching foot of the proud and the hand of the wicked, then closes by seeing the evildoers already cast down, unable to rise again.

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

Section summaryDavid 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.

Role in the chapterThis single section moves from diagnosis of evil, to adoration of God's character, to prayer and confident conclusion. It contrasts the cramped world of sin with the overflowing life and safety found in God's presence.