1 [[A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Fret H2734 not thyself because of evildoers, H7489 neither be thou envious H7065 against the workers H6213 of iniquity. H5766
2 For they shall soon H4120 be cut down H5243 like the grass, H2682 and wither H5034 as the green H3418 herb. H1877
3 Trust H982 in the LORD, H3068 and do H6213 good; H2896 so shalt thou dwell H7931 in the land, H776 and verily H530 thou shalt be fed. H7462
4 Delight H6026 thyself also in the LORD; H3068 and he shall give H5414 thee the desires H4862 of thine heart. H3820
5 Commit H1556 thy way H1870 unto the LORD; H3068 trust H982 also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. H6213
6 And he shall bring forth H3318 thy righteousness H6664 as the light, H216 and thy judgment H4941 as the noonday. H6672
7 Rest H1826 in the LORD, H3068 and wait patiently H2342 for him: fret H2734 not thyself because of him who prospereth H6743 in his way, H1870 because of the man H376 who bringeth H6213 wicked devices H4209 to pass. H6213
8 Cease H7503 from anger, H639 and forsake H5800 wrath: H2534 fret H2734 not thyself in any wise H389 to do evil. H7489
9 For evildoers H7489 shall be cut off: H3772 but those that wait H6960 upon the LORD, H3068 they shall inherit H3423 the earth. H776
10 For yet a little while, H4592 and the wicked H7563 shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider H995 his place, H4725 and it shall not be.
11 But the meek H6035 shall inherit H3423 the earth; H776 and shall delight H6026 themselves in the abundance H7230 of peace. H7965
12 The wicked H7563 plotteth H2161 against the just, H6662 and gnasheth H2786 upon him with his teeth. H8127
13 The Lord H136 shall laugh H7832 at him: for he seeth H7200 that his day H3117 is coming. H935
14 The wicked H7563 have drawn out H6605 the sword, H2719 and have bent H1869 their bow, H7198 to cast down H5307 the poor H6041 and needy, H34 and to slay H2873 such as be of upright H3477 conversation. H1870
15 Their sword H2719 shall enter H935 into their own heart, H3820 and their bows H7198 shall be broken. H7665
16 A little H4592 that a righteous man H6662 hath is better H2896 than the riches H1995 of many H7227 wicked. H7563
17 For the arms H2220 of the wicked H7563 shall be broken: H7665 but the LORD H3068 upholdeth H5564 the righteous. H6662
18 The LORD H3068 knoweth H3045 the days H3117 of the upright: H8549 and their inheritance H5159 shall be for ever. H5769
19 They shall not be ashamed H954 in the evil H7451 time: H6256 and in the days H3117 of famine H7459 they shall be satisfied. H7646
20 But the wicked H7563 shall perish, H6 and the enemies H341 of the LORD H3068 shall be as the fat H3368 of lambs: H3733 they shall consume; H3615 into smoke H6227 shall they consume away. H3615
21 The wicked H7563 borroweth, H3867 and payeth not again: H7999 but the righteous H6662 sheweth mercy, H2603 and giveth. H5414
22 For such as be blessed H1288 of him shall inherit H3423 the earth; H776 and they that be cursed H7043 of him shall be cut off. H3772
23 The steps H4703 of a good man H1397 are ordered H3559 by the LORD: H3068 and he delighteth H2654 in his way. H1870
24 Though he fall, H5307 he shall not be utterly cast down: H2904 for the LORD H3068 upholdeth H5564 him with his hand. H3027
25 I have been young, H5288 and now am old; H2204 yet have I not seen H7200 the righteous H6662 forsaken, H5800 nor his seed H2233 begging H1245 bread. H3899
26 He is ever H3117 merciful, H2603 and lendeth; H3867 and his seed H2233 is blessed. H1293
27 Depart H5493 from evil, H7451 and do H6213 good; H2896 and dwell H7931 for evermore. H5769
28 For the LORD H3068 loveth H157 judgment, H4941 and forsaketh H5800 not his saints; H2623 they are preserved H8104 for ever: H5769 but the seed H2233 of the wicked H7563 shall be cut off. H3772
29 The righteous H6662 shall inherit H3423 the land, H776 and dwell H7931 therein for ever. H5703
30 The mouth H6310 of the righteous H6662 speaketh H1897 wisdom, H2451 and his tongue H3956 talketh H1696 of judgment. H4941
31 The law H8451 of his God H430 is in his heart; H3820 none of his steps H838 shall slide. H4571
32 The wicked H7563 watcheth H6822 the righteous, H6662 and seeketh H1245 to slay H4191 him.
33 The LORD H3068 will not leave H5800 him in his hand, H3027 nor condemn H7561 him when he is judged. H8199
34 Wait H6960 on the LORD, H3068 and keep H8104 his way, H1870 and he shall exalt H7311 thee to inherit H3423 the land: H776 when the wicked H7563 are cut off, H3772 thou shalt see H7200 it.
35 I have seen H7200 the wicked H7563 in great power, H6184 and spreading H6168 himself like a green H7488 bay tree. H249
36 Yet he passed away, H5674 and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought H1245 him, but he could not be found. H4672
37 Mark H8104 the perfect H8535 man, and behold H7200 the upright: H3477 for the end H319 of that man H376 is peace. H7965
38 But the transgressors H6586 shall be destroyed H8045 together: H3162 the end H319 of the wicked H7563 shall be cut off. H3772
39 But the salvation H8668 of the righteous H6662 is of the LORD: H3068 he is their strength H4581 in the time H6256 of trouble. H6869
40 And the LORD H3068 shall help H5826 them, and deliver H6403 them: he shall deliver H6403 them from the wicked, H7563 and save H3467 them, because they trust H2620 in him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 37
Commentary on Psalms 37 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 37
Ps 37:1-40. A composed and uniform trust in God and a constant course of integrity are urged in view of the blessedness of the truly pious, contrasted in various aspects with the final ruin of the wicked. Thus the wisdom and justice of God's providence are vindicated, and its seeming inequalities, which excite the cavils of the wicked and the distrust of the pious, are explained. David's personal history abundantly illustrates the Psalm.
1, 2. The general sentiment of the whole Psalm is expressed. The righteous need not be vexed by the prosperity of the wicked; for it is transient, and their destiny undesirable.
3. Trust—sure of safety.
shalt thou dwell—or, "dwell thou"; repose quietly.
verily … fed—or, "feed on truth," God's promise (Ps 36:5; compare Ho 12:1).
4. desires—(Ps 20:5; 21:2), what is lawful and right, really good (Ps 84:11).
5. Commit thy way—(Pr 16:3). Works—what you have to do and cannot set forth as a burden.
trust … in him—literally, "on Him." He will do what you cannot (compare Ps 22:8; 31:6). He will not suffer your character to remain under suspicion.
7, 8. Rest in—literally, "Be silent to the Lord."
and wait—Be submissive—avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.
9. Two reasons: The prosperity of the wicked is short; and the pious, by humble trust, will secure all covenant blessing, denoted here by "inherit the earth" (compare Ps 25:13).
10, 11. shall not be—literally, "is not"—is not to be found.
11. peace—includes prosperity.
12. gnasheth … teeth—in beastly rage.
13. (Compare Ps 2:4).
seeth—knows certainly.
his day—of punishment, long delayed, shall yet come (Heb 10:37).
14, 15. sword, and … bow—for any instruments of violence.
slay—literally, "slaughter" (1Sa 25:11).
poor and needy—God's people (Ps 10:17; 12:5). The punishment of the wicked as drawn on themselves—often mentioned (compare Ps 7:15, 16; 35:8).
16. riches—literally, "noise and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare Ps 39:6). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man is more vivid.
17. Even the members of the body needed to hold weapons are destroyed.
18, 19. God, who knows His people's changes, provides against evil and supplies all their need.
20. While the wicked, however mighty, are destroyed, and that utterly, as smoke which vanishes and leaves no trace.
21, 22. payeth not—not able; having grown poor (compare De 15:7). Ability of the one and inability of the other do not exclude moral dispositions. God's blessing or cursing makes the difference.
22. cut off—opposed to "inherit the earth" (compare Le 7:20, 21).
23, 24. steps—way, or, "course of life"; as ordered by God, failures will not be permanent.
26. his seed is blessed—literally, "for a blessing" (Ge 12:2; Ps 21:6). This position is still true as the rule of God's economy (1Ti 4:8; 6:6).
27-29. The exhortation is sustained by the assurance of God's essential rectitude in that providential government which provides perpetual blessings for the good, and perpetual misery for the wicked.
30, 31. The righteous described as to the elements of character, thought, word, and action.
31. steps—or, "goings"—for conduct which is unwavering (Ps 18:36).
32, 33. The devices of the wicked against the good fail because God acquits them.
34. On the contrary, the good are not only blessed, but made to see the ruin of their foes.
35, 36. of which a picture is given, under the figure of a flourishing tree (compare Margin), which soon withers.
36. he was not—(Compare Ps 37:10).
37. By "the end" is meant reward (Pr 23:18; 24:14), or expectation of success, as in Ps 37:38, which describes the end of the wicked in contrast, and that is cut off (compare Ps 73:17).
38. together—at once; entirely (Ps 4:8).
39, 40. strength—(Ps 27:1; 28:8).
trouble—straits (Ps 9:9; 10:1). In trust and quietness is the salvation of the pious from all foes and all their devices.