This verse exposes a heart set on sin, scheming in private, acting with willful disobedience, and completely tolerating evil.
He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil. (v.4)
David describes a person who, rather than resting peacefully, plans wickedness upon his bed—using his private moments to plot evil, rather than to reflect on the goodness of the LORD. This language shows the depth of intentional sin, a moral corruption where the person actively chooses to scheme at a time when most would seek restoration. In other passages, David advises committing our cares and thoughts to God in trust, but here, this person instead fosters secret wrongdoing.
Following the wakeful scheming, this individual sets himself on a path that is not good. Such a path suggests a willful choice to act immorally. Behavior begins in the heart, and this verse shows that the mind’s meditations eventually manifest in actions. By ignoring the LORD’s instruction and refusing to repent, the individual abandons God’s blessing: “The steps of a man are established by the LORD” (Psalms 37:23), but here the sinner chooses a route of rebellion. Through these words in Psalm 36, David reveals the tragic cycle of planning evil, following it, and therefore distancing oneself from a holy God.
Finally, David laments that this persistent sinner does not despise evil, indicating a conscious acceptance of wrongdoing. The person fails to reject sin’s destructiveness, refusing the true path of life. This choice of sin inevitably leads to harm for the individual and for those harmed by his actions, contrasting with the faithful who “Do not let sin reign…so that you obey its lusts” (Romans 6:12). The result is a lack of spiritual health, moral decay, and a life bereft of God’s fellowship.
He nurses wrongdoing in secret, pursues a harmful path, and no longer detests evil.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 36:4 meaning
He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil. (v.4)
David describes a person who, rather than resting peacefully, plans wickedness upon his bed—using his private moments to plot evil, rather than to reflect on the goodness of the LORD. This language shows the depth of intentional sin, a moral corruption where the person actively chooses to scheme at a time when most would seek restoration. In other passages, David advises committing our cares and thoughts to God in trust, but here, this person instead fosters secret wrongdoing.
Following the wakeful scheming, this individual sets himself on a path that is not good. Such a path suggests a willful choice to act immorally. Behavior begins in the heart, and this verse shows that the mind’s meditations eventually manifest in actions. By ignoring the LORD’s instruction and refusing to repent, the individual abandons God’s blessing: “The steps of a man are established by the LORD” (Psalms 37:23), but here the sinner chooses a route of rebellion. Through these words in Psalm 36, David reveals the tragic cycle of planning evil, following it, and therefore distancing oneself from a holy God.
Finally, David laments that this persistent sinner does not despise evil, indicating a conscious acceptance of wrongdoing. The person fails to reject sin’s destructiveness, refusing the true path of life. This choice of sin inevitably leads to harm for the individual and for those harmed by his actions, contrasting with the faithful who “Do not let sin reign…so that you obey its lusts” (Romans 6:12). The result is a lack of spiritual health, moral decay, and a life bereft of God’s fellowship.
He nurses wrongdoing in secret, pursues a harmful path, and no longer detests evil.