Psalms 36:1-11

1 For the leader. By David, the servant of ADONAI: Crime speaks to the wicked. I perceive this in my heart; before his eyes there is no fear of God.

2 For, the way he sees it, crime makes his life easy that is, until his wrongs are discovered; then, he is hated.

3 His words are wrong and deceitful; he has stopped being wise and doing good.

4 He devises trouble as he lies in bed; so set is he on his own bad way that he doesn't hate evil.

5 ADONAI, in the heavens is your grace; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, your judgments are like the great deep. You save man and beast, ADONAI.

7 How precious, God, is your grace! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings,

8 they feast on the rich bounty of your house, and you have them drink from the stream of your delights.

9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

10 Continue your grace to those who know you and your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Don't let the foot of the proud tread on me or the hands of the wicked drive me away.

Psalms 36:1-11 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.