36:1 No fear - When I consider the manifold transgressions of ungodly men, I conclude within myself, that they have cast off all fear of the Divine majesty.

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

36:2 Flattereth - He deceiveth himself with vain persuasions, that God does not mind his sins, or will not punish them. Found - Punish, as the same phrase is used, Numb 32:23.

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

36:3 Left off - Once he had some degrees of wisdom, but now he is become an open apostate.

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

36:4 Deviseth - Freely, from his own inclination, when none are present to provoke him to it.

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

36:5 Thy mercy - Mine enemies are cruel and perfidious, but thou art infinite in mercy, and faithfulness. Heavens - Is infinite and incomprehensible. Faithfulness - The truth both of thy threatenings against thine enemies, and of thy promises made to good men. The clouds - Is far above our reach, greater and higher than we can apprehend.

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

36:6 Mountains - Stedfast and unmoveable: eminent and conspicuous to all men. Judgments - The executions of thy counsels. Deep - Unsearchable, as the ocean. Man - The worst of men; yea, the brute - beasts have experience of thy care and kindness.

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

36:7 Loving - kindness - Though all thine attributes be excellent, yet, above all, thy mercy is most excellent, or precious and amiable.

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

36:8 Satisfied - Who trust in thee, as he now said. Fatness - With those delightful provisions, which thou hast prepared for them in heaven. The river - Which denotes both their plenty, and their perpetuity.

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

36:9 Life - It is in God as in a fountain, and from him is derived to us. But - Of that glorious and blessed, and endless life, which alone is worthy of the name. Light - In the light of thy glorious presence, which shall be fully manifested, when we see thee face to face. Light - Joy and comfort, and happiness: the word light is elegantly repeated in another signification; in the former clause it is light discovering, in this light, discovered or enjoyed.

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

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

36:11 The foot - Of my proud and insolent enemies. Come - So as to overthrow me.

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

36:12 There - He seems as it were to point at the place, as if it were already done.