Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 36:3
The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good.
3. iniquity and deceit ] Cp. Psa 5:5-6; Psa 10:7.
he hath left off &c.] Or, he hath ceased to be wise to do good. Cf. Jer 4:22. He inverts the prophetic exhortation, Isa 1:16-17. The word here rendered to be wise is specially used of the intelligence which leads to right and successful conduct. Cp. Psa 14:2 ( understand); Psa 101:2 ( behave myself wisely).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
3, 4. The fruits of this reckless atheism described.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit – Are false and wicked. See the notes at Psa 12:2. It is words do not fairly represent or express what is in his heart.
He hath left off to be wise – To act wisely; to do right.
And to do good – To act benevolently and kindly. This would seem to imply that there had been a change in his conduct, or that he was not what he once professed to be, and appeared to be. This language would be applicable to the change in the conduct of Saul toward David after he became envious and jealous of him 1 Sam. 18; and it is possible, as Amyraldus supposed, that this may have had particular reference to him. But such instances of a change, of feeling and conduct are not very uncommon in the world, and it may doubtless have happened that David experienced this more than once in his life.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. The words of his mouth are iniquity] In the principle; and deceit calculated to pervert others, and lead them astray.
He hath left off to be wise, and to do good.] His heart is become foolish, and his actions wicked. He has cut off the connection between himself and all righteousness.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Are iniquity and deceit, i.e. are wicked and deceitful. Once he had some shadows or degrees of wisdom, and sometimes did some things that were good in their kind; but new he hath not so much as the appearance of it, and is become an open apostate from that which once he professed.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and deceit,…. Not only sinful, but sin itself; his mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, of filthy and unchaste words, of corrupt communication, lying, deceit, and flattery; out of the abundance of the wickedness of his heart his mouth speaketh; and which shows the badness of it, and proves all that is said before of him;
he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good; by which the psalmist seems to intend one that had been a professor of religion, who, besides the light of nature he had acted contrary to, had had the advantage of a divine revelation, and had been enlightened into the knowledge of divine things, and had done many things externally good, particularly acts of beneficence; but now had dropped his profession of religion, denied the truths he had been enlightened into, and ceased from doing good; otherwise a natural man understandeth not; and, though he is wise to do evil, to do good he has no knowledge.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. The two clauses of this verse may be understood as referring to the same thing, namely, that the wicked indulging in deceit and vanity, will not receive or admit the light of understanding. This, I apprehend, is the meaning of David. He reproves the wicked not merely for circumventing others by their wiles and stratagems, but especially because they are altogether destitute of uprightness and sincerity. We have already said that the Psalmist is here speaking not of sinful and wicked men, in whose hearts there still remains some fear of God, but of the profane despisers of his name, who have given themselves up entirely to the practice of sin. He therefore says that they have always in their mouth some frivolous excuses and vain pretexts, by which they encourage themselves in rejecting and scoffing at all sound doctrine. He then adds, that they purposely suppress in themselves all knowledge or understanding of the distinction between good and evil, because they have no desire to become better than they are. We know that God has given understanding to men to direct them to do what is good. Now David says that the wicked shun it, and strive to deprive themselves of it, that they may not be constrained to repent of their wickedness, and to amend their lives. We are taught from this passage, that if at any time we turn aside from the path of rectitude, the only remedy in such a case is to open the eyes of our understanding, that we may rightly distinguish between good and evil, and that thus we may be led back from our wandering. When, instead of doing this, a man refuses instruction, it is an indication that he is in a state of depravity altogether desperate.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3, 4) From the secret promptings of sin, the description of the ungodly passes on to its issues in words and deeds. It is an awful picture of wickedness of a man abandoning himself without check or remorse to the inspiration of his own evil heart. He goes from bad to worse. In a great English tragedy, the murderer, though he has determined to wade farther in blood, yet prays against the horror of nightly temptations:
Merciful powers,
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature
Gives way to in repose.
But this man deviseth mischief upon his bed. When even the worst criminals shudder at their own deeds, whispering to their deaf pillows the agonies that creep over them with darkness and silence, this ungodly man of the Hebrew poets picture is occupied rather in scheming fresh villainies; even then he abhorreth not evil, or better, rejecteth not, catches rather at every fresh suggestion, and shapes it to his end.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3, 4. The words of his mouth From the silent oracle of sin in the midst of his heart, (Psa 36:1,) and the self-flattery of Psa 36:2, the growth of sin has now put on the form of words, which, like his thoughts, are iniquity and deceit. His conversation and his objective rule of life conform to his evil heart.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed His retired and nightly hours are given to the concoction of schemes of wickedness. See Pro 4:16, and contrast Psa 63:6.
He hath left off to do good His sin at first manifests itself negatively. As his ultimate object of living is sinful, he has “left off” duty and the practice of virtue as not subservient to his plans.
He setteth himself in a way not good He takes a firm stand in his evil course of life. The description is climactic, rising from listening to corrupt inclinations, to self-flattery, words, evil devisings, neglect of all virtuous life, confirmed habits of evil. Comp. Psa 1:1
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 36:3 The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good.
Ver. 3. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit ] That is, saith Calvin, he hath something to say to excuse and justify himself, to the hardening of his heart and hastening of his destruction; and there is no wool so coarse but will take some colour. But God will one day wash off his varnish with rivers of brimstone; he can skill of no other language but that of hell; the words of his mouth are, desiderium et dolus; there is no truth, and as little trust to be put in anything that he speaketh. And why? there is no fear of God before his eyes. See a like text, Rom 3:13-15 .
He hath left off to be wise, and to do good
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
iniquity. Hebrew. ‘aven. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
The words: Psa 5:9, Psa 12:2, Psa 12:3, Psa 55:21, Psa 58:3, Psa 140:3, 1Sa 18:21, 1Sa 19:6, 1Sa 19:7, 1Sa 26:21, Mat 22:15-18, Mat 22:35
he hath: Psa 125:5, 1Sa 11:6-13, 1Sa 13:13, 1Sa 13:14, 1Sa 15:26, 1Sa 16:14, Zep 1:6, Heb 10:39, 1Jo 2:19
Reciprocal: Gen 4:8 – talked Jos 23:12 – go back Rth 1:15 – gone back 1Sa 15:11 – turned 2Sa 22:22 – have not 2Ch 20:32 – departed not Neh 6:8 – thou feignest Job 23:11 – his way Psa 10:7 – and deceit Psa 35:20 – but Psa 50:19 – tongue Psa 52:1 – mischief Psa 101:3 – them Pro 2:13 – leave Pro 6:12 – walketh Jer 34:11 – General Eze 3:20 – When Eze 18:24 – when Hos 4:10 – left Hos 8:3 – cast Amo 5:7 – leave Mat 13:21 – dureth Mat 15:18 – General Luk 11:25 – he findeth Rom 3:13 – with their 2Pe 2:21 – to turn
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 36:3-4. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit Are wicked and deceitful. He hath left off to be wise and to do good Once he had some degrees of wisdom, and did things that were apparently good, and seemed to be under the government of religion: but now he is an open apostate from that which he once professed. He deviseth mischief upon his bed Freely from his own inclination, when none are present to provoke him to it. He setteth himself in a way that is not good He doth not repent of his wicked devices, but resolutely proceeds to execute them, and persists therein. He abhorreth not evil Though he sometimes professes to feel remorse for his conduct, and desists for a time from his evil practices, yet he does not truly repent of, nor abhor them, and therefore is ready to return to them when any occasion offers itself.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
36:3 The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and {c} deceit: he hath left off to be wise, [and] to do good.
(c) The reprobates mock wholesome doctrine, and put no difference between good and evil.