Psalms 36:1-8

1 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.

Psalms 36:1-8 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.