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The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
Psalms 36:3 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
  • BSB The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.
  • NKJV The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
  • NASB The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
  • NLT Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The wicked man's words are full of iniquity and deceit, and he has abandoned wisdom and goodness. Corruption shows in his speech and conduct.

Overview

David traces the fruit of godlessness: lying and harmful speech, and the deliberate forsaking of wisdom and good. What begins as no fear of God (v.1) issues in deceitful words and a settled abandonment of right living. Such description underscores humanity's need for the transforming grace that makes the tongue and life new in Christ (Ephesians 4:29).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Jer 4:22For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
  • Ps 55:21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
  • Matt 22:15–18Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
  • 1 Jn 2:19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
  • Ps 10:7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
  • Ps 58:3The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
  • 1 Sam 13:13–14And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
  • Zeph 1:6And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
  • Ps 12:2–3They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
  • Ps 94:8Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
  • 1 Sam 11:6–13And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
  • 1 Sam 16:14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
  • Ps 125:5As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
  • 1 Sam 19:6–7And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
  • Heb 10:39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
  • Matt 22:35Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
  • 1 Sam 18:21And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
  • 1 Sam 26:21Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
  • Ps 140:3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
  • Ps 5:9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
  • 1 Sam 15:26And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 36:3YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 36:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.