How does Psalm 36:3 describe the deceitfulness of the wicked's words and actions?

◄ Psalm 36:3 on wicked deceit? ►

Our Verse in Focus

“The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.” — Psalm 36:3

What the Verse Lays Out

• “The words of his mouth” – the psalm zeroes in on speech, because words reveal the heart (Luke 6:45).

• “Wicked” – speech that is morally twisted, hostile to God’s character.

• “Deceitful” – speech that is intentionally false or misleading; duplicity is the norm, not the exception.

• “He has ceased to be wise and well-doing” – the inner break with wisdom spills into behavior; evil talk and evil action travel together.

Why Deceitful Words Matter

• Words steer the whole person (James 3:5–6).

• Lies harden the conscience (1 Timothy 4:2).

• Deceit breaks community trust (Proverbs 26:28).

• God detests lying lips (Proverbs 12:22) and will bring every careless word into judgment (Matthew 12:36).

The Progression from Speech to Action

1. Abandon truth in conversation.

2. Lose practical wisdom (“ceased to be wise”).

3. Stop doing good altogether (“ceased… well-doing”).

4. Grow comfortable plotting evil (Psalm 36:4).

Echoes Elsewhere in Scripture

• Proverbs 6:16–19 lists “a lying tongue” and “a false witness” among the seven things the LORD hates.

• Ephesians 4:25-32 urges believers to put away falsehood and replace it with edifying speech.

• Revelation 21:8 shows liars sharing the same destiny as the blatantly immoral—evidence of how seriously God views deceit.

The Stark Contrast

• Wicked lips versus lips that “speak truth each to his neighbor” (Zechariah 8:16).

• Actions born of deceit versus actions born of love (1 John 3:18).

• A life spiraling downward versus “the path of the righteous [that] is like the first light of dawn” (Proverbs 4:18).

Living Out the Lesson

• Guard the heart; it overflows into words (Proverbs 4:23).

• Saturate the mind with Scripture to anchor speech in truth (John 17:17).

• Let words be “full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6), showing the reality of a transformed life.