Psalms 36:1-7

1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, There is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, That his iniquity will not be found out and be hated.

3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath ceased to be wise [and] to do good.

4 He deviseth iniquity upon his bed; He setteth himself in a way that is not good; He abhorreth not evil.

5 Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, is in the heavens; Thy faithfulness [reacheth] unto the skies.

6 Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Jehovah, thou preservest man and beast.

7 How precious is thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings.

Psalms 36:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, [a Psalm] of David, the servant of the Lord. This title, which the psalmist takes to himself, regards him not only as a creature, every man being the servant of the Lord as such, of right, though not in fact; but as a king, he being a minister of God for good to good men, and for evil to evil men; and also may respect him as a renewed man; and it is here used in opposition to and distinction from the wicked, who are the servants of sin and Satan, of whom he speaks in this psalm. The Syriac and Arabic versions in their titles suggest that this psalm was written when David was persecuted by Saul, and which is the sense of some interpreters; but R. Obadiah thinks Ahithophel is designed by the wicked man in it; and so it was penned on account of Absalom's rebellion.