Psalm 36:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:4

The portrait of the godless man. "He abhorreth not evil." This dark trait is the crowning stroke in the portrait here drawn of the godless man. If a man does not hate evil, it is certain he loves not good. Those twin precepts are like stems from one root ( Romans 12:9 , "Abhor … cleave"). What a man loves and follows shows what he will be ; but what he hates shows what he is. I. HATRED OF SIN IS A MORE SEARCHING MORAL TEST THAN ADMIRATION OF GOODNESS .... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 36:4

He deviseth mischief upon his bed - Margin, as in Hebrew: “vanity.” That is, when he lies down; when he is wakeful at night; he plots some scheme of iniquity - some vain, wicked enterprise. So in Proverbs 4:16, “For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.”He setteth himself - That is, he takes his stand or his position; he assumes this attitude. See Psalms 2:2, “The kings of the earth “set themselves,”” where the same word... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 36:3-4

Psalms 36:3-4. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit Are wicked and deceitful. He hath left off to be wise and to do good Once he had some degrees of wisdom, and did things that were apparently good, and seemed to be under the government of religion: but now he is an open apostate from that which he once professed. He deviseth mischief upon his bed Freely from his own inclination, when none are present to provoke him to it. He setteth himself in a way that is not good He doth... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

Psalms 36:0 Human sin and divine loveWhen people habitually do what they know is wrong, the principle of lawlessness takes control of their lives. It hardens their hearts against God and blinds their eyes to their own failures, so that they cannot see the terrible judgment for which they are heading (1-2). Their wrong attitude shows itself in deceitful speech, evil actions and mischievous plottings (3-4).God, on the other hand, is characterized by covenant love that is limitless (5), acts of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 36:4

mischief. Hebrew. 'aven, as in Psalms 36:3 , "iniquity". setteth himself = taketh his stand. evil. Hebrew. ra'a" . App-44 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 36:1-4

1. Revelation concerning the wicked 36:1-4 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 36:1-12

Psalms 36This primarily wisdom psalm, with elements of individual lament and praise, contains an oracle that David received from the Lord concerning the wicked. In contrast to them, he rejoiced in the loyal love and righteousness of God. One writer titled his exposition of this psalm, "Man at His Worst, God at His Best." [Note: Armerding, p. 76.] "This is a psalm of powerful contrasts, a glimpse of human wickedness at its most malevolent, and divine goodness in its many-sided fullness.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 36:2-4

Without this dread of the Lord, the wicked boldly pursues evil continually. He silences his conscience and goes on speaking deceptively and acting vainly without any inner restraint."’Listen to your heart!’ the world tells us, forgetting that ’The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?’ (Jeremiah 17:9, NASB)." [Note: Wiersbe, The . . . Wisdom . . ., p. 163.] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 36:1-12

This Ps. consists of two strongly contrasted pictures, one of the wickedness of the wicked man (Psalms 36:1-4), and one of the goodness of God (Psalms 36:5-9), followed by a prayer that the Psalmist may continue to enjoy God’s blessing (Psalms 36:10-11), and by a confident assurance of the final overthrow of the wicked (Psalms 36:12). The Ps. seems to reflect the social conditions of a later age than David’s. 1. The transgression of the wicked saith] Sin is personified as an oracle to whose... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:3-4

(3, 4) From the secret promptings of sin, the description of the ungodly passes on to its issues in words and deeds. It is an awful picture of wickedness of a man abandoning himself without check or remorse to the inspiration of his own evil heart. He goes from bad to worse. In a great English tragedy, the murderer, though he has determined to wade farther in blood, yet prays against the horror of nightly temptations:“Merciful powers,Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that natureGives way to in... read more

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