Tap any verse number for what that verse means.
1The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
5Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
10O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
Understand This
Psalm 36, explained
What Psalm 36 is saying
Psalm 36 juxtaposes a penetrating analysis of wickedness (vv. 1–4) with an exalted hymn to God's chesed (vv. 5–9), creating one of the Psalter's most striking theological contrasts. The opening oracle—'Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart' (n'um-pesha larasha b'qerev libbi)—personifies sin as a prophetic voice, a dark parody of divine oracle. The hymnic section ascends through cosmic imagery: God's love reaches the heavens, His faithfulness the clouds, His righteousness the mountains, His judgments the great deep.
The background behind it
Attributed to David as 'servant of the LORD' (eved YHWH), a title connecting him to Moses and the prophetic tradition. The psalm's wisdom elements and temple imagery ('the abundance of Your house,' 'fountain of life,' 'Your light') suggest liturgical use.
Themes running underneath
The psalm presents two competing 'oracles': sin whispers flattery to the wicked, while God's attributes tower to cosmic proportions. The 'fountain of life' (m'qor chayyim) and 'light' (or) imagery in verse 9 become foundational to Johannine theology. The wicked have lost the ability to see their own corruption—'there is no fear of God before his eyes.'
Why it still matters
Psalm 36 exposes the self-deception at the heart of wickedness: sin flatters, and the person who has abandoned the fear of God loses the capacity for honest self-evaluation. The antidote is immersion in God's abundant, life-giving love.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.