Psalm 36

Human Wickedness and God’s Love

For the choir director. Of David, the Lord’s servant.

An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
Dread of God has no effect on him.[a](A)
For with his flattering opinion of himself,
he does not discover and hate his iniquity.(B)
The words from his mouth are malicious and deceptive;(C)
he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.(D)
Even on his bed he makes malicious plans.(E)
He sets himself on a path that is not good,
and he does not reject evil.(F)

Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven,
your faithfulness to the clouds.(G)
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your judgments like the deepest sea.(H)
Lord, you preserve people and animals.(I)
How priceless your faithful love is, God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(J)
They are filled from the abundance of your house.
You let them drink from your refreshing stream.(K)
For the wellspring of life is with you.(L)
By means of your light we see light.(M)

10 Spread your faithful love over those who know you,
and your righteousness over the upright in heart.(N)
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant come near me
or the hand of the wicked drive me away.(O)
12 There! The evildoers have fallen.
They have been thrown down and cannot rise.(P)

Footnotes

  1. 36:1 Lit There is no dread of God in front of his eyes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.