What does Psalm 36:11 mean?

David prays for protection from wickedness. In poetic style, he refers to both hands and feet, in this context as weapons or instruments of violence. Hands hold weapons (Psalm 149:6) and feet are used to trample an enemy and signal their submission (Psalm 56:2). In David's case this was a very literal concept, as his enemies often sought to kill him (1 Samuel 19:1–2; 2 Samuel 15:13–14). Influence, also, is a way in which wickedness tempts believers (Proverbs 13:20).

This prayer provides a warning to believers today to trust the Lord for protection. God does not always promise physical security, and not all threats are as immediate as those faced by David. Yet Christians should note the spiritual nature of their real enemy, instead of being self-reliant (Ephesians 6:10–18). Peter learned the hard way that self-confidence paves the road to a spiritual fall. He boasted that he would never forsake the Lord (John 13:36–38), but later, while warming himself at the enemy's fire, he denied Jesus three times (John 18:15–18, 25–27). The Bible assures us that pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18) and warns, "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).