The big picture
Psalms 36 opens in verse 1 with “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 6 with “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD …”, and closes in verse 12 with “There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to…” Repeated or prominent terms include iniquity, eyes, good, heart, light. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 12Psalms 36:1-6
1–6: The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no…
Psalms 36:1–6 opens with “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his…” and reaches “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD , thou…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 36 develops its own movement around iniquity, eyes, good, heart, light, with particular weight carried by eyes, good, iniquity.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before…” By verse 3, the text has turned to “The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.” It lands on “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD , thou…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as eyes, good, iniquity, LORD, abhorreth, beast tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 36 develops its own movement around iniquity, eyes, good, heart, light,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Thy, God. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 2: “For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: eyes, good, iniquity, LORD, abhorreth, beast
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 36:1
“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
- Psalms 36:2
“For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 36:3
“The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.” The line’s distinctive content terms include deceit, good, iniquity. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 36:4
“He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.” The line’s distinctive content terms include abhorreth, deviseth, evil. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 36:5
“Thy mercy, O LORD , is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 36:6
“Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD , thou preservest man and beast.” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 36:1-6
King James Version1The 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.
Psalms 36:7-12
7–12: How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of…
Psalms 36:7–12 opens with “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under…” and reaches “There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 36 develops its own movement around iniquity, eyes, good, heart, light, with particular weight carried by light, lovingkindness, able.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust…” By verse 9, the text has turned to “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” It lands on “There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as light, lovingkindness, able, abundantly, children, continue tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 36 develops its own movement around iniquity, eyes, good, heart, light,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 9: “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: light, lovingkindness, able, abundantly, children, continue
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 36:7
“How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
- Psalms 36:8
“They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Psalms 36:9
“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 36:10
“O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.” The line’s distinctive content terms include continue, heart, know. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 36:11
“Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include foot, hand, pride. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 36:12
“There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Psalms 36:7-12
King James Version7How 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.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
- Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
- Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 36?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Psalms 36 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 36 develops its own movement around iniquity, eyes, good, heart, light?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?