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
Let not thine heart H3820 envy H7065 sinners: H2400 but be thou in the fear H3374 of the LORD H3068 all the day H3117 long.
For I was envious H7065 at the foolish, H1984 when I saw H7200 the prosperity H7965 of the wicked. H7563
Envy H7065 thou not the oppressor, H376 H2555 and choose H977 none of his ways. H1870
And her adversary H6869 also provoked H3707 her sore, H3708 for to make her fret, H7481 because the LORD H3068 had shut H5462 up H1157 her womb. H7358 And as he did H6213 so year H8141 by year, H8141 when H1767 she went up H5927 to the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 so she provoked H3707 her; therefore she wept, H1058 and did not eat. H398 Then said H559 Elkanah H511 her husband H376 to her, Hannah, H2584 why weepest H1058 thou? and why eatest H398 thou not? and why is thy heart H3824 grieved? H3415 am not I better H2896 to thee than ten H6235 sons? H1121
Be not thou envious H7065 against evil H7451 men, H582 neither desire H183 to be with them.
The foolishness H200 of man H120 perverteth H5557 his way: H1870 and his heart H3820 fretteth H2196 against the LORD. H3068
G2228 Do ye think G1380 that G3754 the scripture G1124 saith G3004 in vain, G2761 The spirit G4151 that G3739 dwelleth G2730 in G1722 us G2254 lusteth G1971 to G4314 envy? G5355 But G1161 he giveth G1325 more G3187 grace. G5485 Wherefore G1352 he saith, G3004 God G2316 resisteth G498 the proud, G5244 but G1161 giveth G1325 grace G5485 unto the humble. G5011
Envyings, G5355 murders, G5408 drunkenness, G3178 revellings, G2970 and G2532 such G5125 like: G3664 of the which G3739 I tell G4302 you G5213 before, G4302 as G2531 I have G4277 also G2532 told you in time past, G4277 that G3754 they which do G4238 such things G5108 shall G2816 not G3756 inherit G2816 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316
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.