Psalms 36
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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.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 36:1-12
How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love
To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the Lord.
1Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.
5Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O Lord.
7How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
10Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12There the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 36:1-12
Psalm 36
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
5Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
Psalm 36, while contrasting the character of evildoers and the character of God, also depicts God as the fountain of life. Flowing from this eternal fountain is a river of delights, pleasures that quench a heart’s deepest thirst, that fulfill a soul’s quest for eternal security and meaning, that meet a mind’s craving for righteous justice.
What are these delights that vivify lives? Love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and protection.
God’s love is unfailing, extending beyond the limits of space and time, culminating in the Cross. It is the Love you have been seeking all your life, a love that will bind your wounds, turning scars into stars.
His faithfulness is so vast it reaches the skies. He will never abandon or betray you. Forever faithful, He will always have your back. . . and your heart.
God’s righteousness is higher than Mount Everest. God always does the right thing, even when you can’t understand. As J.B. Phillips said, “If God were small enough for me to figure out, He wouldn’t be big enough for me to worship.”
His justice is as deep as the ocean. No matter how you have been abused or mistreated, one day God will bring relief to the deepest corners of your fragile heart. Divine justice will prevail! God’s river of delights - love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice - flows freely for all.
Lori Engel
Chaplain (currently disabled), Eugene, Oregon (as of this writing)