Psalm 36:3
New International Version
The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.

New Living Translation
Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good.

English Standard Version
The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

Berean Standard Bible
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.

King James Bible
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

New King James Version
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

New American Standard Bible
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

NASB 1995
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

NASB 1977
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

Legacy Standard Bible
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to consider to do good.

Amplified Bible
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

Christian Standard Bible
The words from his mouth are malicious and deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.

American Standard Version
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath ceased to be wise and to do good.

Contemporary English Version
They tell deceitful lies, and they don't have the sense to live right.

English Revised Version
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise and to do good.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The words from his mouth are [nothing but] trouble and deception. He has stopped doing what is wise and good.

Good News Translation
Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good.

International Standard Version
The words from his mouth are vain and deceptive. He has abandoned behaving wisely and doing good.

Majority Standard Bible
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.

NET Bible
The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right.

New Heart English Bible
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

Webster's Bible Translation
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath ceased to be wise, and to do good.

World English Bible
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The words of his mouth [are] iniquity and deceit, "" He ceased to act prudently—to do good.

Young's Literal Translation
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit, He ceased to act prudently -- to do good.

Smith's Literal Translation
The words of his mouth vanity and deceit: he ceased to be circumspect, to do good.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile : he would not understand that he might do well.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He is unwilling to understand, so that he may act well.

New American Bible
Empty and false are the words of his mouth; he has ceased to be wise and do good.

New Revised Standard Version
The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; he is unwilling to do good.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The answer of his mouth is disease and deceit and he does not want to do good.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit; He hath left off to be wise, to do good.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The words of his mouth are transgression and deceit: he is not inclined to understand how to do good.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Transgression of the Wicked
2For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin. 3The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing. 4Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.…

Cross References
Romans 3:13
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”

Jeremiah 9:3-5
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. / “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity.

Isaiah 59:3-4
For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice. / No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Proverbs 6:12-14
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, / winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. / With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

Matthew 12:34-35
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

James 3:6-8
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. / All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, / but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Proverbs 10:31-32
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. / The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Psalm 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

Isaiah 32:6
For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink.

Micah 6:12
For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

Matthew 15:18-19
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. / For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Colossians 3:8
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.


Treasury of Scripture

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he has left off to be wise, and to do good.

The words

Psalm 5:9
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psalm 12:2,3
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak…

Psalm 55:21
The 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.

he hath

Psalm 125:5
As 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 Samuel 11:6-13
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly…

1 Samuel 13:13,14
And 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…

Jump to Previous
Act Ceased Deceit Deceitful Evil Good Iniquity Mischief Mouth Prudently Wicked Wickedness Wise Wisely Words
Jump to Next
Act Ceased Deceit Deceitful Evil Good Iniquity Mischief Mouth Prudently Wicked Wickedness Wise Wisely Words
Psalm 36
1. The grievous state of the wicked
8. The excellence of God's mercy
10. David prays for favor to God's children














The words of his mouth
This phrase emphasizes the power and influence of speech. In the Hebrew context, "words" (דִּבְרֵי) often carry the weight of one's character and intentions. The mouth, as a source of speech, reflects the heart's condition (Matthew 12:34). In ancient Israel, words were not merely sounds but were seen as having the power to create or destroy, bless or curse. This highlights the responsibility of using speech to edify rather than to harm.

are wicked and deceitful
"Wicked" (אָוֶן) and "deceitful" (מִרְמָה) describe a moral corruption that is both active and intentional. Wickedness in the Hebrew tradition is not just about actions but a state of being that opposes God's righteousness. Deceitfulness implies a deliberate attempt to mislead or betray trust. Historically, deceit was a common tool among those who sought power or personal gain, often leading to societal decay. This phrase warns against the destructive nature of such speech, which can lead individuals and communities away from truth and righteousness.

he has ceased
The cessation here (חָדַל) indicates a deliberate stopping or abandoning of a previous state or action. In the biblical narrative, this often implies a turning away from a path of righteousness or wisdom. It suggests a conscious decision to reject what is good and true, highlighting the danger of complacency or rebellion against divine guidance.

to be wise
Wisdom (חָכְמָה) in the Hebrew context is more than knowledge; it is the application of understanding in alignment with God's will. The cessation of wisdom indicates a departure from living in accordance with divine principles. Wisdom is highly valued in Scripture, often associated with fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). The absence of wisdom leads to folly and moral decay, as seen throughout biblical history.

and well-doing
"Well-doing" (טוֹב) refers to actions that are good, beneficial, and aligned with God's commandments. In the Hebrew tradition, doing good is an expression of one's faith and obedience to God. The abandonment of well-doing signifies a life that no longer seeks to honor God through righteous actions. This phrase serves as a call to return to a life of integrity and service, reflecting God's goodness in the world.

(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 poet's 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.

Verse 3. - The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit (comp. Psalm 12:2; Psalm 28:3). He hath left off to be wise, and to do good. There was a time when he occasionally acted wisely, and did what was right. But that time is gone by. Now he is consistently wicked.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The words
דִּבְרֵי־ (diḇ·rê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of his mouth
פִ֭יו (p̄îw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

are wicked
אָ֣וֶן (’ā·wen)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 205: Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol

and deceitful;
וּמִרְמָ֑ה (ū·mir·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4820: Deceit, treachery

he has ceased
חָדַ֖ל (ḥā·ḏal)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2308: To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle

to be wise
לְהַשְׂכִּ֣יל (lə·haś·kîl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent

[and] well-doing.
לְהֵיטִֽיב׃ (lə·hê·ṭîḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing


Links
Psalm 36:3 NIV
Psalm 36:3 NLT
Psalm 36:3 ESV
Psalm 36:3 NASB
Psalm 36:3 KJV

Psalm 36:3 BibleApps.com
Psalm 36:3 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 36:3 Chinese Bible
Psalm 36:3 French Bible
Psalm 36:3 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 36:2
Top of Page
Top of Page