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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”

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)