Human Wickedness and God’s Love

¹ For the music director. Of David, the servant of Yahweh.¹ An oracle: the wicked has rebellion in the midst of his² heart. There is no fear of God before his eyes.

1. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
2. Reading with a few Hebrew manuscripts and some versions; MT reads “my”

² For he flatters himself in his eyes, hating to detect his iniquity.¹

1. Or “when finding his iniquity and when hating”

³ The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit. He has ceased to have insight and to do good.

⁴ He plans sin on his bed. He puts himself on a way that is not good. He does not reject evil.

⁵ O Yahweh, your loyal love extends into the heavens, your faithfulness unto the clouds.

⁶ Your righteousness is ⌞like the mighty mountains⌟,¹ your judgments like the great deep. You save man and beast, O Yahweh.

1. Literally “like the mountains of God”

⁷ How precious is your loyal love, O God, and the children of humankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

⁸ They are refreshed with the ⌞fullness⌟¹ of your house,² and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

1. Literally “fatness”
2. Or “temple”

⁹ For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

¹⁰ Prolong your loyal love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart.

¹¹ Do not let a foot of pride come against me, nor let a wicked hand make me to wander homeless.

¹² There doers of evil have fallen; they are thrust down and not able to rise.