1The 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.
7How 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.
📖 Chapter study
Summary
The psalm describes the heart of the wicked, who does not fear God and plots evil even in bed, and contrasts this with the greatness of God's mercy, faithfulness, and justice, which extend to the heavens.
Explanation
The first part of the psalm (v.1-4) paints a psychological portrait of deliberate wickedness — someone who flatters himself until his own conscience can no longer recognize sin as detestable. In sharp contrast, the second part (v.5-9) is one of the loftiest hymns in the whole Bible about the attributes of God, with cosmic imagery: mercy reaching to the heavens, righteousness like great mountains, judgments like a great deep. The phrase 'with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light' (v.9) is often cited as one of the most beautiful declarations about the ultimate source of everything that is good. Today's application: deliberately comparing the smallness of human wickedness with the greatness of God's character helps maintain the right perspective in the face of injustice.
Fun facts
- The phrase 'in thy light shall we see light' (v.9) has influenced the motto of several universities around the world, including Columbia and Yale (whose motto is 'Lux et Veritas,' light and truth), reflecting its resonance as a symbol of knowledge coming from God.
- This psalm structurally contrasts two blocks of nearly equal size — human wickedness and divine greatness — a deliberate poetic device to amplify the contrast between the two.