Psalm 36:3

3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, to do good.

Psalm 36:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 36:3

The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and deceit
Not only sinful, but sin itself; his mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, of filthy and unchaste words, of corrupt communication, lying, deceit, and flattery; out of the abundance of the wickedness of his heart his mouth speaketh; and which shows the badness of it, and proves all that is said before of him;

he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good;
by which the psalmist seems to intend one that had been a professor of religion, who, besides the light of nature he had acted contrary to, had had the advantage of a divine revelation, and had been enlightened into the knowledge of divine things, and had done many things externally good, particularly acts of beneficence; but now had dropped his profession of religion, denied the truths he had been enlightened into, and ceased from doing good; otherwise a natural man understandeth not; and, though he is wise to do evil, to do good he has no knowledge.

Psalm 36:3 In-Context

1 {To the chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the servant of Jehovah; of David.} The transgression of the wicked uttereth within my heart, There is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, [even] when his iniquity is found to be hateful.

3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, to do good.

4 He deviseth wickedness up on his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good: he abhorreth not evil.

5 Jehovah, thy loving-kindness is in the heavens, and thy faithfulness [reacheth] unto the clouds.