Psalms 36:1-12 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

XXXVI. We have here two Pss. or fragments of two Pss.: A, Psalms 36:1-4 and possibly Psalms 36:12, and B, Psalms 36:5-11.

XXXVI. A. Psalms 36:1-4. A denunciation of wicked Jews, who might well be in terror of Yahweh but are not. The general sense seems to be that as God inspires His prophets, so wickedness personified inspires sinners with a false confidence. The sinner thinks that he has made everything smooth for his own interests and need not fear that God will discover and hate his iniquity.

Psalms 36:1 f. The text is very doubtful. We may perhaps emend (cf. LXX) and render: Thus saith the inspiration of the transgressor, My inmost heart is set on doing evil. And be hated can scarcely be right and may be a misplaced gloss.

XXXVI. B. Psalms 36:5-11. Yahweh's Loving-kindness.

Psalms 36:6. mountains of God: i.e. on which God dwells. See Ezekiel 28:14. a great deep: i.e. like the great deep which surrounded and bore up the earth (Genesis 1:6 f.). Note the universalism; Yahweh preserves men as such, not merely Jews; all nations are to worship in the Temple.

Psalms 36:9 b. The light of God's favour makes all our lives full of light and joy.

Related Commentaries of Psalms 36:1

Psalms 36:1-12

1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

4 He deviseth mischiefa upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

7 How excellentb is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

10 O continuec thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.