In Your Light We See Light
Psalm 36 summary: what it means
Psalm 36 sets two pictures side by side. The first four verses describe the wicked man from the inside: there is no fear of God before his eyes, he flatters himself too much to see his own sin, his words are deceit, and he lies on his bed plotting. Then, with no transition, verse 5 lifts to God's loving kindness in the heavens and his faithfulness reaching to the skies.
The contrast is the point. The wicked man is described through his eyes, his mouth and his bed, while God's goodness is described with the heavens, the mountains, the great deep, a river and a spring. Verse 9 gathers it up: in your light we will see light. The psalm ends with a prayer for protection and a picture of the evildoers already fallen.
Psalm 36: In Your Light We See Light
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-36
Psalm 36 commentary: explained verse by verse
A revelation is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked:There is no fear of God before his eyes.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
The psalm begins with what the speaker calls a revelation within the heart about the wicked. The root problem is named first: there is no fear of God before his eyes. The rest of the portrait follows from this.
Also read Genesis 20:11, James 1:1, Proverbs 16:6, 2 Peter 1:1
For he flatters himself in his own eyes,too much to detect and hate his sin.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
The wicked man flatters himself so much that he cannot see his own sin, let alone hate it. The problem the psalm describes is self-deception, not ignorance.
Also read Psalm 49:18, Jeremiah 2:23, Jeremiah 2:34-35, Romans 10:3
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit.He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
What is inside comes out in speech. His words are iniquity and deceit, and he has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Also read Matthew 22:35, Psalm 55:21, Zephaniah 1:6, 1 John 2:19
He plots iniquity on his bed.He sets himself in a way that is not good.He doesn’t abhor evil.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
Even his rest is used for harm: he plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself on a path that is not good and does not abhor evil. The portrait ends here, with no word of judgment yet.
Also read Jeremiah 8:6, Romans 12:9, Matthew 27:1, 1 Samuel 19:11
Your loving kindness, LORD, is in the heavens.Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
The psalm turns abruptly to God. His loving kindness is in the heavens and his faithfulness reaches the skies, a scale far beyond the bed of verse 4. The KJV reads: Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens.
Also read Psalm 100:5, Matthew 24:35, Isaiah 55:7-9, Psalm 103:11
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God.Your judgments are like a great deep.LORD, you preserve man and animal.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
God's righteousness is compared to the mountains of God and his judgments to a great deep, height and depth together. The verse ends on a practical note: the LORD preserves both people and animals.
Also read Psalm 71:19, 1 Timothy 4:10, Exodus 9:28, Jonah 4:11
How precious is your loving kindness, God!The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
The psalm stops to exclaim how precious God's loving kindness is. The children of men take refuge under the shadow of his wings, a picture of shelter close to God.
Also read Psalm 63:7, Psalm 86:5, John 3:16, 1 Peter 2:6-7
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house.You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
Those who take refuge are not only sheltered but fed. They are abundantly satisfied from God's house and drink from the river of his pleasures.
Also read John 7:37, Song of Songs 5:1, Isaiah 43:20, Job 20:17
For with you is the spring of life.In your light we will see light.
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
This verse gathers up the praise of verses 5 to 8. Life has its source in God, and his light is the light by which anything else is seen. The KJV has fountain of life where the WEB has spring of life.
Also read Revelation 21:6, Malachi 4:2, John 1:8-9, Isaiah 60:1-2
Oh continue your loving kindness to those who know you,your righteousness to the upright in heart.
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
The praise becomes a request. The speaker asks God to keep showing loving kindness to those who know him and righteousness to the upright in heart.
Also read Psalm 103:17, Psalm 7:8-10, 1 Peter 1:5, Isaiah 51:6-8
Don’t let the foot of pride come against me.Don’t let the hand of the wicked drive me away.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
The speaker asks for protection from the proud and the wicked, pictured as a foot that tramples and a hand that drives away. The wicked of verses 1 to 4 now appear as a threat.
Also read Psalm 16:8, Psalm 10:2, Psalm 119:51, Psalm 12:3-5
There the workers of iniquity are fallen.They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
The psalm ends by looking at the workers of iniquity as already fallen. They are thrust down and cannot rise, the opposite of the safety given to those under God's wings.
Also read Psalm 1:5, Jeremiah 51:64, Judges 5:31, Psalm 58:10-11
A prayer from Psalm 36
LORD, your loving kindness is in the heavens and your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mountains, and your judgments are like a great deep. You preserve both people and animals. How precious is your loving kindness. Let me take refuge under the shadow of your wings. Satisfy me with the abundance of your house and let me drink from the river of your pleasures. With you is the spring of life. In your light I will see light. Do not let the foot of pride come against me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away. Continue your loving kindness to those who know you. Amen.
Psalm 36 Bible study questions
- In verses 1 to 4, what does the psalm say about how the wicked person thinks, speaks and plans?
- In verses 5 and 6, which parts of the natural world are used to describe God's loving kindness, faithfulness and righteousness?
- Verse 2 says the wicked flatter themselves too much to see their own sin; what helps a person see what they would rather not see?
- Verse 9 says in your light we will see light; what do you think that phrase might mean?
- Psalm 57:10 also says God's loving kindness reaches to the heavens; how does it compare with Psalm 36:5?
Questions about Psalm 36
What does Psalm 36 mean?
It contrasts a wicked man who has no fear of God with the vast loving kindness and faithfulness of God. It ends with a prayer that God will keep protecting those who know him.
Who wrote Psalm 36?
The heading attributes it to David and calls him the servant of the LORD. It is addressed to the Chief Musician.
What does Psalm 36:9 mean?
It says that God is the source of life and that his light is what lets people see anything clearly. In the WEB it reads "For with you is the spring of life. In your light we will see light."
What does Psalm 36:5 say?
"Your loving kindness, LORD, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies." The KJV has "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds."
What does Psalm 36:6 say in the KJV?
"Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast."
What does Psalm 36:1 mean?
It names the root of wickedness as having no fear of God. The verses that follow describe what grows from that: self-flattery, deceit and plotting.
Psalm 36 KJV: the King James Version
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.1
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.2
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.3
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.4
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.5
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.6
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.7
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.8
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.9
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.10
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.11
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.12
Psalm 36 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לְעֶֽבֶד־יְהוָ֬ה לְדָוִֽד׃
2 נְאֻֽם־פֶּ֣שַׁע לָ֭רָשָׁע בְּקֶ֣רֶב לִבִּ֑י אֵֽין־פַּ֥חַד אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃
3 כִּֽי־הֶחֱלִ֣יק אֵלָ֣יו בְּעֵינָ֑יו לִמְצֹ֖א עֲוֺנ֣וֹ לִשְׂנֹֽא׃
4 דִּבְרֵי־פִ֭יו אָ֣וֶן וּמִרְמָ֑ה חָדַ֖ל לְהַשְׂכִּ֣יל לְהֵיטִֽיב׃
5 אָ֤וֶן ׀ יַחְשֹׁ֗ב עַֽל־מִשְׁכָּ֫ב֥וֹ יִ֭תְיַצֵּב עַל־דֶּ֣רֶךְ לֹא־ט֑וֹב רָ֝֗ע לֹ֣א יִמְאָֽס׃
6 יְ֭הוָה בְּהַשָּׁמַ֣יִם חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ עַד־שְׁחָקִֽים׃
7 צִדְקָֽתְךָ֨ ׀ כְּֽהַרְרֵי־אֵ֗ל מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶךָ תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֑ה אָ֤דָֽם־וּבְהֵמָ֖ה תוֹשִׁ֣יעַ יְהוָֽה׃
8 מַה־יָּקָ֥ר חַסְדְּךָ֗ אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים וּבְנֵ֥י אָדָ֑ם בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ יֶחֱסָיֽוּן׃
9 יִ֭רְוְיֻן מִדֶּ֣שֶׁן בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְנַ֖חַל עֲדָנֶ֣יךָ תַשְׁקֵֽם׃
10 כִּֽי־עִ֭מְּךָ מְק֣וֹר חַיִּ֑ים בְּ֝אוֹרְךָ֗ נִרְאֶה־אֽוֹר׃
11 מְשֹׁ֣ךְ חַ֭סְדְּךָ לְיֹדְעֶ֑יךָ וְ֝צִדְקָֽתְךָ֗ לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃
12 אַל־תְּ֭בוֹאֵנִי רֶ֣גֶל גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְיַד־רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים אַל־תְּנִדֵֽנִי׃
13 שָׁ֣ם נָ֭פְלוּ פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן דֹּ֝ח֗וּ וְלֹא־יָ֥כְלוּ קֽוּם׃
Psalm 36 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 35 there.
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1 Unto the end, for the servant of God, David himself.
2 The unjust hath said within himself, that he would sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes.
3 For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may be found unto hatred.
4 The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile: he would not understand that he might do well.
5 He hath devised iniquity on his bed, he hath set himself on every way that is not good: but evil he hath not hated.
6 O Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth, even to the clouds.
7 Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord:
8 O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God! But the children of men shall put their trust under the covert of thy wings.
9 They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure.
10 For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall see light.
11 Extend thy mercy to them that know thee, and thy justice to them that are right in heart.
12 Let not the foot of pride come to me, and let not the hand of the sinner move me.
13 There the workers of iniquity are fallen, they are cast out, and could not stand.
Psalm 36 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 35.
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1 In finem. Servo Domini ipsi David.
2 Dixit injustus ut delinquat in semetipso: non est timor Dei ante oculos ejus.
3 Quoniam dolose egit in conspectu ejus, ut inveniatur iniquitas ejus ad odium.
4 Verba oris ejus iniquitas, et dolus; noluit intelligere ut bene ageret.
5 Iniquitatem meditatus est in cubili suo; astitit omni viæ non bonæ: malitiam autem non odivit.
6 Domine, in cælo misericordia tua, et veritas tua usque ad nubes.
7 Justitia tua sicut montes Dei; judicia tua abyssus multa. Homines et jumenta salvabis, Domine,
8 quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, Deus. Filii autem hominum in tegmine alarum tuarum sperabunt.
9 Inebriabuntur ab ubertate domus tuæ, et torrente voluptatis tuæ potabis eos:
10 quoniam apud te est fons vitæ, et in lumine tuo videbimus lumen.
11 Prætende misericordiam tuam scientibus te, et justitiam tuam his qui recto sunt corde.
12 Non veniat mihi pes superbiæ, et manus peccatoris non moveat me.
13 Ibi ceciderunt qui operantur iniquitatem; expulsi sunt, nec potuerunt stare.
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Psalm 36 at a glance
| Verses | 12 |
| Heading in the text | For the Chief Musician. By David, the servant of the LORD. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to David and calls him the servant of the LORD. |
| Type | Wisdom and Praise |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 35 |
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Psalm 36 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 36 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 36 belongs
Psalms of DavidBook 1 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source