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Psalm 36

Concerning the Rebelliousness of the Wicked

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For the choir director. By the servant of the Lord. By David.

A declaration about the rebellion of the wicked is deep in my heart.[a]

The Arrogance of the Wicked

There is no dread of God before his eyes,
because he flatters himself in his own eyes
    too much to notice his guilt and to hate it.
The words from his mouth are deception and deceit.
He has given up being wise and doing good.
He plots deception even on his bed.
He sets out on a path that is not good.
He does not reject wrong.

The Goodness of God

Lord, your mercy reaches to the heavens.
Your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is as high as the mountains of God.
Your justice is as deep as the ocean.
You save both man and animal, O Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God!
So all people[b] find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They are satisfied by the rich food of your house.
You let them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life.
In your light we see light.

Closing Prayer

10 Stretch out your mercy over those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Do not let the foot of the proud trample me.
Do not let the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers have fallen.
They have been thrown down.
They are not able to rise!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 36:1 A variant found in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac reads: rebellion speaks to the wicked within his heart.
  2. Psalm 36:7 Or the sons of man or the sons of Adam

Human Wickedness and God’s Love

For the music director. Of David, the servant of Yahweh.[a]

36 An oracle: the wicked has rebellion
in the midst of his[b] heart.
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his eyes,
hating to detect his iniquity.[c]
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit.
He has ceased to have insight and to do good.
He plans sin on his bed.
He puts himself on a way that is not good.
He does not reject evil.
O Yahweh, your loyal love extends into the heavens,
your faithfulness unto the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,[d]
your judgments like the great deep.
You save man and beast, O Yahweh.
How precious is your loyal love, O God,
and the children of humankind
take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They are refreshed with the fullness[e] of your house,[f]
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Prolong your loyal love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart.
11 Do not let a foot of pride come against me,
nor let a wicked hand make me to wander homeless.
12 There doers of evil have fallen;
they are thrust down and not able to rise.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 36:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  2. Psalm 36:1 Reading with a few Hebrew manuscripts and some versions; MT reads “my”
  3. Psalm 36:2 Or “when finding his iniquity and when hating”
  4. Psalm 36:6 Literally “like the mountains of God”
  5. Psalm 36:8 Literally “fatness”
  6. Psalm 36:8 Or “temple”