Psalm 36:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

NIV: Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart.

NASB: Prolong Your mercy to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright of heart.

CSB: Spread your faithful love over those who know you, and your righteousness over the upright in heart.

NLT: Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.

KJV: O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

NKJV: Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.

The Hebrew word hesed is rendered as "steadfast love" or "lovingkindness." The term implies things like loyalty, mercy, favor, and goodness. The word is among the primary descriptions of God's loving nature as seen in the Old Testament (Exodus 34:6¬–7; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 36:5; 136). David prays that God will continue to show this gracious care for those who honor the Lord. Those who are "upright of heart" are a contrast to those who reject God and pursue what is evil (Proverbs 10:9; 21:8).

It is entirely by grace that anyone can know the Lord. Jeremiah 31:34 indicates that someday the Lord will put His law in the hearts of the people of Israel and save them. He prophesies: "And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD."

Jesus draws a distinction between those who are of the world and His followers. He says the world will hate His followers and will persecute them. He explains, "But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me" (John 15:21). It is one thing to know about the Lord but an entirely different matter to know Him personally. Those who know Him enjoy His love and receive His righteousness (Ephesians 1:3–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 John 3:1).

Psalm 36:10–12 closes the song as David offers a prayer. He asks the Lord to continue to show love and righteousness to those who closely follow Him. He asks God to prevent the proud wicked from influencing him or distracting him from his calling. David pictures those who do evil as already defeated and utterly conquered.

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.