Fathers

Psalms 36

Tap a verse to read the Fathers. Press and hold, then drag, to make a card.

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

About · Privacy · Credits · Support VRSZ

What the Fathers say

Psalms 36:2

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"For he has wrought deceitfully in His sight" [Psalm 36:2]. In whose sight? In His, whose fear was not before the eyes of him that did work deceitfully. "To find out his iniquity, and hate it." He wrought so as not to find it. For there are men who as it were endeavour to seek out their iniquity, and fear to find it; because if they should find it, it is said to them, Depart from it: this you did before you knew; you did iniquity being in ignorance; God gives pardon: now you have discovered it, forsake it, that to your ignorance …

Exposition on Psalm 36 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

For it is written: There is no fear of God before his eyes: because he hath dealt deceitfully before him, that he might find his iniquity unto hatred. For what did he find? For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. But as commendable is he who finds the good he seeks, so elusive is he who labored to find the evil he sought; for our efforts should be directed towards good things, not towards wickedness and crime. …

Commentaries on the Twelve Davidic Psalms ↗

Thomas Aquinas

But the cause is, "because he has acted deceitfully." When someone in the sight of a king does something hateful to the king, it is a sign that he does not fear him; so the sinner, when he commits sin in the presence of God, who sees all things, it is a sign that he does not fear God, because "in his sight," namely of God, "he has acted deceitfully," that is, he has committed deceit: Heb. 4: "All things are naked and open to his eyes." And he says "deceitfully," because he shows one thing outwardly and pretends another: Ps. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗