The Way of the Wicked
Study note
The wicked person has no fear of God. He flatters himself, speaks wickedness, and has stopped being wise. Even in bed he plots evil.
1 Deep in my heart I understand something about the sin of the wicked: the fear of God means nothing at all to them. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 They sweet-talk themselves, so much so that they cannot even recognize or hate their own sin. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 Everything that comes out of their mouths is wicked and dishonest. They have completely given up on being wise or doing anything good. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4 They lie in bed at night cooking up evil plans. They commit to a path of sin and never turn away from what is wrong. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
God's Love Reaches the Heavens
Study note
God's faithful love reaches to the heavens. His faithfulness extends to the clouds. His righteousness is like the great mountains. People find shelter under the shadow of his wings, and in his light we see light.
5 Lord, your loyal love stretches all the way to the sky. Your faithfulness reaches as high as the clouds. Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Your justice stands as tall as the tallest mountains. Your fairness runs as deep as the deepest ocean. Lord, you keep both people and animals safe. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How exceedingly valuable your loyal love is, O God! Every person finds shelter under the shadow of your wings. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They fill up on the rich food in your house, and you let them drink from a river that overflows with delight. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 You are the spring where life itself bubbles up. When your light shines on us, we can finally see clearly. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
A Prayer for Protection
Study note
David asks God to continue showing love to those who know him and to protect them from the foot of the proud and the hand of the wicked.
10 Keep pouring out your loyal love on those who know you, and keep showing your goodness to people whose hearts are honest. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Don't let proud people march in and push me around. Don't let the wicked shove me out of the way. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12 Look — the evildoers have already crashed to the ground! They have been knocked flat and cannot get back up. There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.