Psalm 36:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

NIV: For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

NASB: Wrongdoing speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.

CSB: For the choir director. Of David, the Lord’s servant. An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked person: Dread of God has no effect on him.

NLT: Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all.

KJV: To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

NKJV: {To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord.} An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.

David portrays sin as deeply rooted in the human heart (Matthew 15:18–19). Jeremiah 17:9 reinforces this truth by stating: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" The deception of sin is only implied in this verse but clarified in the following statements (Psalm 36:2–4). The allure of sin deceives the wicked person. It tells him there is no reason to respect or obey God (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 10:11). Temptation persuades a person that crossing God's boundaries carries no consequences. It tells him he will not be punished for disobedience.

The Devil deceived Eve into doubting the consequence which God promised for disobedience. "You shall not surely die," he told her. He added: "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4–5). Sin is so deceptive that it denies God's truth and shows itself to be desirable (James 1:13–18).

The word "transgression" here comes from the Hebrew pesha', which implies a deliberate violation. A "transgression" is literally a "going beyond a line." The concept is also used in reference to things like property; a related word in English is "trespass." The original word suggests something purposeful or knowing; this is not a sincere mistake, but rather a conscious choice to ignore God's will.

Psalm 36:1–4 opens with an ugly but accurate picture of the immoral, evil person. Sin is lodged deep inside them, without respect for God or His will. Such a person lives as if there will never be consequences for their actions; as if no one will even know about their sin. David characterizes this depraved person as plotting sin, embracing evil, and ignoring godly wisdom.

David begins this psalm by reflecting on the deeply rooted sin which makes people rebel against God. This comes along with arrogance and an impulse to do evil all the time. In stark contrast, the Lord's character and conduct are flawless. His unfailing love is compared to the height of clouds and mountains and to the depth of the ocean. God's merciful love is praised. David concludes with a prayer that the Lord's unfailing love will continue to favor the upright in heart.

This psalm uses common themes from David's other writings which celebrate God's loyal love for those who honor Him (Psalm 3:3; 7:10; 40:9–10). The passage focuses on David's thoughts regarding evil in the world and the contrast such attitudes show to God's character. He concludes the psalm with a prayer that God would continue to extend love and righteousness to His people.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.