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Christian prayer

Psalm 36

Psalm 36 with its original text and meaning, reflecting on human wrongdoing and God's steadfast love.

  • 12 verses
  • Under a minute to recite
  • From the Bible
  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

  3. 3

    The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

  4. 4

    He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

  5. 5

    Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

  6. 6

    Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

  7. 7

    How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

  8. 8

    They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

  9. 9

    For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

  10. 10

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

  11. 11

    Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

  12. 12

    There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

The Hebrew original

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לְעֶֽבֶד־יְהוָ֬ה לְדָוִֽד׃

2 נְאֻֽם־פֶּ֣שַׁע לָ֭רָשָׁע בְּקֶ֣רֶב לִבִּ֑י אֵֽין־פַּ֥חַד אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו׃

3 כִּֽי־הֶחֱלִ֣יק אֵלָ֣יו בְּעֵינָ֑יו לִמְצֹ֖א עֲוֺנ֣וֹ לִשְׂנֹֽא׃

4 דִּבְרֵי־פִ֭יו אָ֣וֶן וּמִרְמָ֑ה חָדַ֖ל לְהַשְׂכִּ֣יל לְהֵיטִֽיב׃

5 אָ֤וֶן ׀ יַחְשֹׁ֗ב עַֽל־מִשְׁכָּ֫ב֥וֹ יִ֭תְיַצֵּב עַל־דֶּ֣רֶךְ לֹא־ט֑וֹב רָ֝֗ע לֹ֣א יִמְאָֽס׃

6 יְ֭הוָה בְּהַשָּׁמַ֣יִם חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ אֱ֝מֽוּנָתְךָ֗ עַד־שְׁחָקִֽים׃

7 צִדְקָֽתְךָ֨ ׀ כְּֽהַרְרֵי־אֵ֗ל מִ֭שְׁפָּטֶךָ תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֑ה אָ֤דָֽם־וּבְהֵמָ֖ה תוֹשִׁ֣יעַ יְהוָֽה׃

8 מַה־יָּקָ֥ר חַסְדְּךָ֗ אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים וּבְנֵ֥י אָדָ֑ם בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ יֶחֱסָיֽוּן׃

9 יִ֭רְוְיֻן מִדֶּ֣שֶׁן בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְנַ֖חַל עֲדָנֶ֣יךָ תַשְׁקֵֽם׃

10 כִּֽי־עִ֭מְּךָ מְק֣וֹר חַיִּ֑ים בְּ֝אוֹרְךָ֗ נִרְאֶה־אֽוֹר׃

11 מְשֹׁ֣ךְ חַ֭סְדְּךָ לְיֹדְעֶ֑יךָ וְ֝צִדְקָֽתְךָ֗ לְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵֽב׃

12 אַל־תְּ֭בוֹאֵנִי רֶ֣גֶל גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְיַד־רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים אַל־תְּנִדֵֽנִי׃

13 שָׁ֣ם נָ֭פְלוּ פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן דֹּ֝ח֗וּ וְלֹא־יָ֥כְלוּ קֽוּם׃

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians recite Psalm 36 in personal prayer or as part of worship. It is especially fitting for reflecting on God's faithfulness, seeking refuge in God, or praying for protection from wrongdoing.

  • Personal prayer
  • Worship
  • Seeking refuge
  • Reflecting on faithfulness

Where it comes from

Psalm 36 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible, which Christians share with the Jewish scriptural tradition. Its heading associates it with David. It contrasts human wickedness with God's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and care for creation.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 36

How many verses are in Psalm 36?

Psalm 36 has 12 verses.

What is Psalm 36 about?

It contrasts the self-deception of those who do wrong with God's steadfast love and faithfulness. It also expresses trust in God as the source of life and light.

Who wrote Psalm 36?

The psalm's heading associates it with David. This is its traditional attribution rather than a securely established account of its authorship.

When do Christians pray Psalm 36?

Many Christians pray it during personal devotion or worship, especially when reflecting on God's love or seeking refuge from wrongdoing. It is not restricted to a particular season.

What language was Psalm 36 originally written in?

Psalm 36 was originally written in Hebrew, like most of the Old Testament.

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