Psalms 36

1 ipsi David noli aemulari in malignantibus neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem

2 quoniam tamquam faenum velociter arescent et quemadmodum holera herbarum cito decident

3 spera in Domino et fac bonitatem et inhabita terram et pasceris in divitiis eius

4 delectare in Domino et dabit tibi petitiones cordis tui

5 revela Domino viam tuam et spera in eum et ipse faciet

6 et educet quasi lumen iustitiam tuam et iudicium tuum tamquam meridiem

7 subditus esto Domino et ora eum noli aemulari in eo qui prosperatur in via sua in homine faciente iniustitias

8 desine ab ira et derelinque furorem noli aemulari ut maligneris

9 quoniam qui malignantur exterminabuntur sustinentes autem Dominum ipsi hereditabunt terram

10 et adhuc pusillum et non erit peccator et quaeres locum eius et non invenies

11 mansueti autem hereditabunt terram et delectabuntur in multitudine pacis

12 observabit peccator iustum et stridebit super eum dentibus suis

13 Dominus autem inridebit eum quia prospicit quoniam veniet dies eius

14 gladium evaginaverunt peccatores intenderunt arcum suum ut decipiant pauperem et inopem ut trucident rectos corde

15 gladius eorum intret in corda ipsorum et arcus ipsorum confringatur

16 melius est modicum iusto super divitias peccatorum multas

17 quoniam brachia peccatorum conterentur confirmat autem iustos Dominus

18 novit Dominus dies inmaculatorum et hereditas eorum in aeternum erit

19 non confundentur in tempore malo et in diebus famis saturabuntur

20 quia peccatores peribunt inimici vero Domini mox honorificati fuerint et exaltati deficientes quemadmodum fumus defecerunt

21 mutuabitur peccator et non solvet iustus autem miseretur et tribuet

22 quia benedicentes ei hereditabunt terram maledicentes autem ei disperibunt

23 apud Dominum gressus hominis dirigentur et viam eius volet

24 cum ceciderit non conlidetur quia Dominus subponit manum suam

25 iunior fui et senui et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius quaerens panes

26 tota die miseretur et commodat et semen illius in benedictione erit

27 declina a malo et fac bonum et inhabita in saeculum saeculi

28 quia Dominus amat iudicium et non derelinquet sanctos suos in aeternum conservabuntur iniusti punientur et semen impiorum peribit

29 iusti autem hereditabunt terram et inhabitabunt in saeculum %saeculi; super eam

30 os iusti meditabitur sapientiam et lingua eius loquetur iudicium

31 lex Dei eius in corde ipsius et non subplantabuntur gressus eius

32 considerat peccator iustum et quaerit mortificare eum

33 Dominus autem non derelinquet eum in manus eius nec damnabit eum cum iudicabitur illi

34 expecta Dominum et custodi viam eius et exaltabit te ut hereditate capias terram cum perierint peccatores videbis

35 vidi impium superexaltatum et elevatum sicut cedros Libani

36 et transivi et ecce non erat et quaesivi eum et non est inventus locus eius

37 custodi innocentiam et vide aequitatem quoniam sunt reliquiae homini pacifico

38 iniusti autem disperibunt simul reliquiae impiorum peribunt

39 salus autem iustorum a Domino et protector eorum in tempore tribulationis

40 et adiuvabit eos Dominus et liberabit eos et eruet eos a peccatoribus et salvabit eos quia speraverunt in eo

Psalms 36 Commentary

Chapter 36

The bad state of the wicked. (1-4) The goodness of God. (5-12)

Verses 1-4 From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with hatred of sin, and seek satisfaction in God's loving-kindness. Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of wicked men comes. It takes rise from contempt of God, and the want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they put upon their own souls. Let us daily beg of God to preserve us from self-flattery. Sin is very hurtful to the sinner himself, and therefore ought to be hateful; but it is not so. It is no marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all mankind; to whom will they be true, who are false to their own souls? It is bad to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do it with plot and management. If we willingly banish holy meditations in our solitary hours, Satan will soon occupy our minds with sinful imaginations. Hardened sinners stand to what they have done, as though they could justify it before God himself.

Verses 5-12 Men may shut up their compassion, yet, with God we shall find mercy. This is great comfort to all believers, plainly to be seen, and not to be taken away. God does all wisely and well; but what he does we know not now, it is time enough to know hereafter. God's loving-kindness is precious to the saints. They put themselves under his protection, and then are safe and easy. Gracious souls, though still desiring more of God, never desire more than God. The gifts of Providence so far satisfy them, that they are content with such things as they have. The benefit of holy ordinances is sweet to a sanctified soul, and strengthening to the spiritual and Divine life. But full satisfaction is reserved for the future state. Their joys shall be constant. God not only works in them a gracious desire for these pleasures, but by his Spirit fills their souls with joy and peace in believing. He quickens whom he will; and whoever will, may come, and take from him of the waters of life freely. May we know, and love, and uprightly serve the Lord; then no proud enemy, on earth or from hell, shall separate us from his love. Faith calleth things that are not, as though they were. It carries us forward to the end of time; it shows us the Lord, on his throne of judgment; the empire of sin fallen to rise no more.

Chapter Summary

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.