Psalms
Psalm 36
KJV
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.
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
Overview
Psalm 36 sets the self-deceiving logic of wickedness beside the immeasurable steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice of the LORD. The middle movement turns from diagnosis to worship: people take refuge under God’s wings, feast on the abundance of his house, drink from the river of his delights, and confess him as the fountain of life and source of light. The closing prayer asks that steadfast love continue toward those who know God and that arrogant violence not prevail. The psalm entrusts the downfall of evildoing to God rather than licensing private retaliation.
Setting and context
The superscription identifies Psalm 36 as a psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, but names no datable event, so no historical crisis is invented. Verses 1–4 diagnose transgression through lack of reverent fear, self-flattery, deceitful speech, abandoned wisdom, and deliberate planning of evil. Verses 5–9 expand into cosmic praise of the LORD’s steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, preserving care, refuge, abundance, fountain of life, and light. Verses 10–12 conclude with prayer for continuing covenant love and righteousness and with the collapse of evildoers. Verse 1 has well-known translation difficulty concerning whether the “oracle of transgression” is within the wicked person’s heart or heard within the psalmist’s heart concerning the wicked; the commentary preserves the shared point without pretending the syntax is simple.
Themes
The self-deceiving logic of sin · Steadfast love and faithfulness beyond measure · Refuge under God’s wings · Abundance without prosperity teaching · The fountain of life and divine light · Prayer for justice without private revenge
Reflection
Psalm 36 sets the self-deceiving logic of wickedness beside the immeasurable steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice of the LORD. The middle movement turns from diagnosis to worship: people take refuge under God’s wings, feast on the abundance of his house, drink from the river of his delights, and confess him as the fountain of life and source of light. The closing prayer asks that steadfast love continue toward those who know God and that arrogant violence not prevail. The psalm entrusts the downfall of evildoing to God rather than licensing private retaliation.
Reading notes
Psalm 36:1 opens with an oracle-like diagnosis of transgression and the absence of the fear of God; the Hebrew syntax is difficult, so the point should be held without pretending every translation resolves the speaker and location identically. Even on the bed the wrongdoer plans evil, sets himself on a harmful path, and does not reject evil; deliberate moral planning is in view, not insomnia, intrusive thoughts, or mental illness. The steadfast love of God is precious, and humanity takes refuge in the shadow of his wings; refuge expresses protective trust without promising immunity from danger or replacing practical safety measures. People are pictured as abundantly satisfied from God’s house and drinking from the river of his delights; the imagery celebrates divine generosity and communion, not guaranteed wealth, luxury, or uninterrupted pleasure. With God is the fountain of life, and in his light we see light; the verse confesses God as the source of life and illumination without replacing medicine, science, education, or careful reasoning. The workers of iniquity are pictured as fallen and unable to rise; the ending entrusts the defeat of evil to God and does not authorize private violence, humiliation, vigilantism, or celebration of another person’s suffering.
Key passages
Psalm 36:1: Psalm 36:1 opens with an oracle-like diagnosis of transgression and the absence of the fear of God; the Hebrew syntax is difficult, so the point should be held without pretending every translation resolves the speaker and location identically. Psalm 36:1 opens with an oracle-like diagnosis of transgression and the absence of the fear of God; the Hebrew syntax is difficult, so the point should be held without pretending every translation resolves the speaker and location identically. Psalm 36:5: The LORD’s steadfast love reaches to the heavens and his faithfulness to the clouds; the scale is poetic praise of immeasurable covenant love, not a physical measurement. The LORD’s steadfast love reaches to the heavens and his faithfulness to the clouds; the scale is poetic praise of immeasurable covenant love, not a physical measurement. Psalm 36:7: The steadfast love of God is precious, and humanity takes refuge in the shadow of his wings; refuge expresses protective trust without promising immunity from danger or replacing practical safety measures. The steadfast love of God is precious, and humanity takes refuge in the shadow of his wings; refuge expresses protective trust without promising immunity from danger or replacing practical safety measures. Psalm 36:9: With God is the fountain of life, and in his light we see light; the verse confesses God as the source of life and illumination without replacing medicine, science, education, or careful reasoning. With God is the fountain of life, and in his light we see light; the verse confesses God as the source of life and illumination without replacing medicine, science, education, or careful reasoning. Psalm 36:10: The prayer asks God to continue steadfast love toward those who know him and righteousness toward the upright in heart; covenant knowledge is relational fidelity, not an elite claim to secret information or moral superiority. The prayer asks God to continue steadfast love toward those who know him and righteousness toward the upright in heart; covenant knowledge is relational fidelity, not an elite claim to secret information or moral superiority. Psalm 36:12: The workers of iniquity are pictured as fallen and unable to rise; the ending entrusts the defeat of evil to God and does not authorize private violence, humiliation, vigilantism, or celebration of another person’s suffering. The workers of iniquity are pictured as fallen and unable to rise; the ending entrusts the defeat of evil to God and does not authorize private violence, humiliation, vigilantism, or celebration of another person’s suffering.
Questions readers ask
What is the main message of Psalm 36? Psalm 36 contrasts self-deceiving evil with the LORD’s immeasurable steadfast love, refuge, life, light, and justice. What does “in your light we see light” mean? Psalm 36:9 confesses God as the source of life and true illumination; it is theological poetry, not a rejection of science, education, or ordinary means of knowledge. Does Psalm 36 promise prosperity? No. The abundance and river-of-delights imagery celebrates divine generosity and communion, not guaranteed wealth or freedom from hardship.