Psalms 36:3

3 The words of his mouth [are] wickedness and deceit. He has ceased to have insight [and] to do good.

Psalms 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.

Psalms 36:3 In-Context

1 An oracle: the wicked has rebellion in the midst of his heart. There is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his eyes, hating to detect his iniquity.
3 The words of his mouth [are] wickedness and deceit. He has ceased to have insight [and] to do good.
4 He plans sin on his bed. He puts himself on a way [that is] not good. He does not reject evil.
5 O Yahweh, your loyal love [extends] into [the] heavens, your faithfulness unto [the] clouds.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.