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Psalms 36

Two worlds set side by side. It opens inside the wicked man's head, where there is "no fear of God before his eyes" (v.1) and he flatters himself too much to hate his own sin. Then, without warning, the camera lifts. From verse 5 the psalm soars: loving kindness in the heavens, righteousness like the mountains, judgments like a great deep. Under God's wings is a house of abundance, "the river of your pleasures" (v.8), and "the spring of life" (v.9). The contrast is the whole argument.

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Psalms 36 (WEB)
  1. 1

    A revelation is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.

  2. 2

    For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin.

  3. 3

    The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

  4. 4

    He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good. He doesn’t abhor evil.

  5. 5

    Your loving kindness, LORD, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

  6. 6

    Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. LORD, you preserve man and animal.

  7. 7

    How precious is your loving kindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.

  8. 8

    They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.

  9. 9

    For with you is the spring of life. In your light we will see light.

  10. 10

    Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

  11. 11

    Don’t let the foot of pride come against me. Don’t let the hand of the wicked drive me away.

  12. 12

    There the workers of iniquity are fallen. They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.

From a cramped heart to a cosmic horizon

The wicked man's world is small and self-referential, plotting on his bed (v.4). God's reaches sky-high and ocean-deep, sheltering man and animal alike (v.6).

The closing verse 12 snaps back to the wicked, already "fallen" and unable to rise, ending the psalm not with them but with their collapse.

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