2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
2 He has smooth-talked himself into believing That his evil will never be noticed.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
2 In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 36:2
Commentary on Psalm 36:1-4
(Read Psalm 36:1-4)
From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with hatred of sin, and seek satisfaction in God's loving-kindness. Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of wicked men comes. It takes rise from contempt of God, and the want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they put upon their own souls. Let us daily beg of God to preserve us from self-flattery. Sin is very hurtful to the sinner himself, and therefore ought to be hateful; but it is not so. It is no marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all mankind; to whom will they be true, who are false to their own souls? It is bad to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do it with plot and management. If we willingly banish holy meditations in our solitary hours, Satan will soon occupy our minds with sinful imaginations. Hardened sinners stand to what they have done, as though they could justify it before God himself.