Skip to content
Scripture Mapping

Psalms 36

World English Bible

WEB

1For the Chief Musician. By David, the servant of Yahweh. A revelation is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin. 3The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn’t abhor evil. 5Your loving kindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, you preserve man and animal. 7How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings. 8They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures. 9For with you is the spring of life. In your light we will see light. 10Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11Don’t let the foot of pride come against me. Don’t let the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12There the workers of iniquity are fallen. They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 36 presents a profound contrast between the wickedness of humanity and the steadfast love of God. The psalmist begins by describing the wicked person, whose heart is filled with deceit and whose words are full of malice. This individual does not fear God and is blinded by their own pride, leading them to commit acts of evil without remorse (#wickedness). The psalmist notes that such a person does not recognize the consequences of their actions, as they have become so entrenched in their sin that they fail to see the truth of God’s judgment. This serves as a warning to all who might stray from the path of righteousness, emphasizing the importance of humility and reverence for God’s authority (#humility, #reverence).

In stark contrast, the psalmist then shifts focus to the character of God, celebrating His unfailing love and faithfulness. The imagery used to describe God’s love is rich and vivid, portraying it as a precious resource that sustains all of creation. The psalmist declares that God’s righteousness is like the mighty mountains and His judgments are as deep as the ocean, illustrating the vastness and depth of His nature (#God'sLove, #Righteousness). The psalm concludes with a prayer for protection and guidance, asking God to continue to show His lovingkindness to those who seek refuge in Him. This chapter ultimately reassures believers of God’s unwavering presence and the security found in His love, encouraging us to trust in Him amidst the challenges of life.

Study

14 dimensions

Referenced by

  1. Psalms 63:3v7Psalm 63:3 speaks of God's lovingkindness being better than life, which is a theme also found in Psalm 36:7, highlighting the preciousness of God's steadfast love.
  2. Psalms 63:5v8Psalm 63:5 speaks of being satisfied as with rich food, similar to Psalm 36:8, which describes being abundantly satisfied with the fullness of God's house.
  3. Psalms 108:4v5Psalm 108:4 and Psalm 36:5 both speak of God's love and faithfulness reaching to the heavens, illustrating the boundless nature of God's attributes.
  4. Lamentations 3:22-23v5Lamentations 3:22-23 speaks of the steadfast love and mercies of the Lord, which are new every morning. Psalm 36:5 similarly highlights the unfailing love and faithfulness of God, emphasizing His constant and enduring nature.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

Your study

Take it with you

This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.

Download the analysisDownload it with your notes and highlights