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Psalm 36

Human Wickedness and Divine Goodness

To the leader. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in their hearts;
there is no fear of God
    before their eyes.(A)
For they flatter themselves in their own eyes
    that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit;
    they have ceased to act wisely and do good.(B)
They plot mischief while on their beds;
    they are set on a way that is not good;
    they do not reject evil.(C)

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.(D)

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(E)
They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.(F)
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.(G)

10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you
    and your salvation to the upright of heart!
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me
    or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie prostrate;
    they are thrust down, unable to rise.(H)

Psalm 36

Concerning the Rebelliousness of the Wicked

Heading

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