Salmos 37

1 No te irrites a causa de los malhechores; no tengas envidia de los que practican la iniquidad.

2 Porque como la hierba pronto se secarán, y se marchitarán como la hierba verde.

3 Confía en el SEÑOR, y haz el bien; habita en la tierra, y cultiva la fidelidad.

4 Pon tu delicia en el SEÑOR, y El te dará las peticiones de tu corazón.

5 Encomienda al SEÑOR tu camino, confía en El, que El actuará;

6 hará resplandecer tu justicia como la luz, y tu derecho como el mediodía.

7 Confía callado en el SEÑOR y espérale con paciencia; no te irrites a causa del que prospera en su camino, por el hombre que lleva a cabo sus intrigas.

8 Deja la ira y abandona el furor; no te irrites, sólo harías lo malo.

9 Porque los malhechores serán exterminados, mas los que esperan en el SEÑOR poseerán la tierra.

10 Un poco más y no existirá el impío; buscarás con cuidado su lugar, pero él no estará allí.

11 Mas los humildes poseerán la tierra, y se deleitarán en abundante prosperidad.

12 El impío trama contra el justo, y contra él rechina sus dientes.

13 El Señor se ríe de él, porque ve que su día se acerca.

14 Los impíos han sacado la espada y entesado el arco, para abatir al afligido y al necesitado, para matar a los de recto proceder.

15 Su espada penetrará en su propio corazón, y sus arcos serán quebrados.

16 Mejor es lo poco del justo que la abundancia de muchos impíos.

17 Porque los brazos de los impíos serán quebrados; mas el SEÑOR sostiene a los justos.

18 El SEÑOR conoce los días de los íntegros, y su herencia será perpetua.

19 No serán avergonzados en el tiempo malo, y en días de hambre se saciarán.

20 Pero los impíos perecerán, y los enemigos del SEÑOR serán como la hermosura de los prados; desaparecen, se desvanecen como el humo.

21 El impío pide prestado y no paga, mas el justo es compasivo y da.

22 Porque los que son bendecidos por el SEÑOR poseerán la tierra, pero los maldecidos por El serán exterminados.

23 Por el SEÑOR son ordenados los pasos del hombre, y el SEÑOR se deleita en su camino.

24 Cuando caiga, no quedará derribado, porque el SEÑOR sostiene su mano.

25 Yo fui joven, y ya soy viejo, y no he visto al justo desamparado, ni a su descendencia mendigando pan.

26 Todo el día es compasivo y presta, y su descendencia es para bendición.

27 Apártate del mal y haz el bien, y tendrás morada para siempre.

28 Porque el SEÑOR ama la justicia, y no abandona a sus santos; ellos son preservados para siempre, pero la descendencia de los impíos será exterminada.

29 Los justos poseerán la tierra, y para siempre morarán en ella.

30 La boca del justo profiere sabiduría y su lengua habla rectitud.

31 La ley de su Dios está en su corazón; no vacilan sus pasos.

32 El impío acecha al justo y procura matarlo.

33 El SEÑOR no dejará al justo en sus manos, ni permitirá que lo condenen cuando sea juzgado.

34 Espera en el SEÑOR y guarda su camino, y El te exaltará para que poseas la tierra; cuando los impíos sean exterminados, tú lo verás.

35 He visto al impío, violento, extenderse como frondoso árbol en su propio suelo.

36 Luego pasó, y he aquí, ya no estaba; lo busqué, pero no se le halló.

37 Observa al que es íntegro, mira al que es recto; porque el hombre de paz tendrá descendencia.

38 Pero los transgresores serán destruidos a una; la posteridad de los impíos será exterminada.

39 Mas la salvación de los justos viene del SEÑOR; El es su fortaleza en el tiempo de la angustia.

40 El SEÑOR los ayuda y los libra; los libra de los impíos y los salva, porque en El se refugian.

Salmos 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the state of the godly and of the wicked.

Verses 1-6 When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are prone to do like them: but this we are warned against. Outward prosperity is fading. When we look forward, with an eye of faith, we shall see no reason to envy the wicked. Their weeping and wailing will be everlasting. The life of religion is a believing trust in the Lord, and diligent care to serve him according to his will. It is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. A man's life consists not in abundance, but, Thou shalt have food convenient for thee. This is more than we deserve, and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. To delight in God is as much a privilege as a duty. He has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humours of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God. Commit thy way unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord, so the margin reads it. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, the burden of thy care. We must roll it off ourselves, not afflict and perplex ourselves with thoughts about future events, but refer them to God. By prayer spread thy case and all thy cares before the Lord, and trust in him. We must do our duty, and then leave the event with God. The promise is very sweet: He shall bring that to pass, whatever it is, which thou has committed to him.

Verses 7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. God knows the believer's days. Not one day's work shall go unrewarded. Their time on earth is reckoned by days, which will soon be numbered; but heavenly happiness shall be for ever. This will be a real support to believers in evil times. Those that rest on the Rock of ages, have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.

Verses 21-33 The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.

Verses 34-40 Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking ( psalms 37:35-36 ) But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.

Footnotes

• [a]. O, apacintate en su
• [b]. I.e., las flores

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 37

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This psalm, it is very probable, was written at the same time, and upon the same occasion, with the former; and describes the different states of good and bad men; and is full of exhortations, instructions, and advice to the people of God; intermixed with various encouraging promises. A late learned writer {h} thinks it was written for Mephibosheth's consolation under Ziba's calumny. {h} Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 2. p. 219.