Psalms 36
What Happens in This Chapter
This psalm has two halves. First it describes a person who does wrong: he does not fear God, he lies to himself, and he plans bad things even in bed. Then it turns to God's love, which is huge as the sky and the mountains and the sea. David asks God to keep loving those who know him, and to keep proud and wicked people from pushing him down.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
1I think about the wrong things bad people do. Deep down, they do not respect God at all.
The old King James wording here is hard to follow. It means the psalm writer is thinking about how bad people act.
2For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
2He thinks too well of himself. So he never sees his own sin or hates it.
3The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
3The words he says are mean and full of lies. He stopped being wise. He stopped doing good.
4He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
4He lies in bed and plans bad things. He picks a path that is not good. He never says no to evil.
5Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
5LORD, your love is so big it reaches the sky. Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
6Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
6Your goodness is like the tallest mountains. The right things you decide are as deep as the sea. LORD, you take care of people and animals.
"Judgments" means the fair choices God makes about right and wrong.
7How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
7God, your love is so precious! That is why people come to you to be safe. It is like hiding under a bird's wing.
8They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
8They eat all the good food in your house. You give them drink from your river of happy things.
9For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
9You are the spring where life comes from. Your light is how we see light.
10O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
10Please keep loving the people who know you. Keep doing right for people whose hearts are honest.
11Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
11Do not let proud people stomp on me. Do not let bad people push me away.
12There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
12Look, the people who do evil have fallen. They are knocked down. They cannot get up.
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