Discovery BoxPsalms 36:3-6
Context36:3 The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful;
he does not care about doing what is wise and right. 1
36:4 He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed;
he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; 2
he does not reject what is evil. 3
36:5 O Lord, your loyal love reaches to the sky; 4
your faithfulness to the clouds. 5
36:6 Your justice is like the highest mountains, 6
your fairness like the deepest sea;
[36:3] 1 tn Heb “he ceases to exhibit wisdom to do good.” The Hiphil forms are exhibitive, indicating the outward expression of an inner attitude.
[36:4] 2 tn Heb “he takes a stand in a way [that is] not good.” The word “way” here refers metaphorically to behavior or life style.
[36:4] 3 tn The three imperfect verbal forms in v. 4 highlight the characteristic behavior of the typical evildoer.
[36:5] 3 tn Heb “[is] in the heavens.”
[36:5] 4 sn The Lord’s loyal love/faithfulness is almost limitless. He is loyal and faithful to his creation and blesses mankind and the animal kingdom with physical life and sustenance (vv. 6-9).
[36:6] 4 tn Heb “mountains of God.” The divine name אֵל (’el, “God”) is here used in an idiomatic manner to indicate the superlative.
[36:6] 6 sn God’s justice/fairness is firm and reliable like the highest mountains and as abundant as the water in the deepest sea. The psalmist uses a legal metaphor to describe God’s preservation of his creation. Like a just judge who vindicates the innocent, God protects his creation from destructive forces.
