1 <To the chief music-maker. Of the servant of the Lord. Of David.> The sin of the evil-doer says in his heart, There is no fear of the Lord before his eyes.
2 For he takes comfort in the thought that his sin will not be uncovered and hated.
3 In the words of his mouth are evil and deceit; he has given up being wise and doing good.
4 He gives thought to evil on his bed; he takes a way which is not good; he is not a hater of evil.
5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens, and your strong purpose is as high as the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judging is like the great deep; O Lord, you give life to man and beast.
7 How good is your loving mercy, O God! the children of men take cover under the shade of your wings.
8 The delights of your house will be showered on them; you will give them drink from the river of your pleasures.
9 For with you is the fountain of life: in your light we will see light.
10 O let there be no end to your loving mercy to those who have knowledge of you, or of your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, or the hand of the evil-doers put me out of my place.
12 There the workers of evil have come down: they have been made low, and will not be lifted up.
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Commentary on Psalms 36 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 36
Ps 36:1-12. On servant of the Lord, see on Ps 18:1, title. The wickedness of man contrasted with the excellency of God's perfections and dispensations; and the benefit of the latter sought, and the evils of the former deprecated.
1. The general sense of this difficult verse is, "that the wicked have no fear of God." The first clause may be rendered, "Saith transgression in my heart, in respect to the wicked, there is no fear," &c., that is, such is my reflection on men's transgressions.
2-4. This reflection detailed.
until his iniquity—literally, "for finding his iniquity for hating"; that is, he persuades himself God will not so find it—"for hating" involving the idea of punishing. Hence his words of iniquity and deceit, and his bold rejection of all right principles of conduct. The climax is that he deliberately adopts and patronizes evil. The negative forms affirm more emphatically their contraries.
5, 6. mercy … and … faithfulness—as mercy and truth (Ps 25:10).
6. righteousness [and] judgments—qualities of a good government (Ps 5:8; 31:1). These all are set forth, by the figures used, as unbounded.
7. shadow of thy wings—(Compare De 32:11; Ps 91:1).
8. fatness—richness.
thy house—residence—for the privileges and blessings of communion with God (Ps 23:6; 27:4).
river of thy pleasures—plenteous supply; may allude to Eden.
9. Light is an emblem of all blessings, given of God as a means to gain more.
10. that know thee—right knowledge of God is the source of right affections and conduct.
11. foot of … hand … wicked—all kinds of violent dealing.
12. There—in the acting of violence, they are overthrown. A signal defeat.