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Wicked People and a Good God

For the director of music. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

36 ·Sin speaks to the wicked in their hearts [L Oracle/Decree of transgression to the wicked in the midst of their heart].
    They have no ·fear [terror] of God [Prov. 1:7; Rom. 3:18].
They ·think too much of themselves [L flatter themselves in their own eyes]
    so they don’t ·see [discover; find] their sin and ·hate [or change] it.
·Their words [L The words of their mouth] are ·wicked lies [mischief and deceit];
    they ·are no longer wise or good [L have stopped being wise/insightful in order to do good].
·At night [L In their bed] they make evil plans;
    ·what they do leads to nothing [L they are set on a way that does no] good.
They don’t ·refuse [reject] things that are evil.

Lord, your ·love [loyalty; covenant love] ·reaches [extends] to the heavens,
    your ·loyalty [faithfulness] to the skies.
Your ·goodness [righteousness] is like the mighty mountains [C majestic].
    Your ·justice [judgment] is like the great ocean [C deep].
Lord, you ·protect [save] both people and animals.
God, ·your love is so precious [L how precious is your loyalty/covenant love?]!
    You ·protect [provide refuge for] people in the shadow of your wings.
They ·eat [feast on; are filled with] ·the rich food [L from the fat/abundance] in your house,
    and you let them drink from your river of ·pleasure [delights].
You are the ·giver [L fountain] of life.
    ·Your light lets us enjoy life [L In your light we see light].

10 Continue to ·love [show loyalty/covenant love to] those who know you
    and ·to do good [L your good/righteousness] to those who are ·good [upright/virtuous in heart].
11 Don’t let ·proud people attack me [L the foot of the arrogant come near me]
    ·and the wicked [L or the hand of the wicked] ·force [drive] me away.
12 Those who do evil ·have been defeated [L fall there].
    They are overwhelmed;
they cannot ·do evil any longer [L arise again].

Psalm 36[a]

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
    before their eyes.(C)

In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
    they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
Even on their beds they plot evil;(I)
    they commit themselves to a sinful course(J)
    and do not reject what is wrong.(K)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness(L) to the skies.(M)
Your righteousness(N) is like the highest mountains,(O)
    your justice like the great deep.(P)
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(Q)
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(R)
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(S)
They feast on the abundance of your house;(T)
    you give them drink from your river(U) of delights.(V)
For with you is the fountain of life;(W)
    in your light(X) we see light.

10 Continue your love(Y) to those who know you,(Z)
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.(AA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked(AB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!(AC)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
  2. Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.