Psalms 37:34-40

34 Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.^[a]

38 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future^[b] for the wicked.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Psalms 37:34-40 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 27:14
• 2. S Psalms 18:21
• 3. ver 9
• 4. Psalms 52:6
• 5. S Job 5:3
• 6. ver 10; Proverbs 12:7; Isaiah 41:12; Daniel 11:19; Job 20:5
• 7. ver 18; S Genesis 6:9; Psalms 18:25
• 8. Psalms 11:7
• 9. Isaiah 57:1-2
• 10. S Psalms 1:1
• 11. S ver 2; Psalms 73:19
• 12. ver 9; Psalms 1:4
• 13. S Psalms 3:8
• 14. S Psalms 9:9
• 15. S 1 Chronicles 5:20; S Psalms 20:2
• 16. S Psalms 34:7; Isaiah 31:5
• 17. S Psalms 18:48
• 18. Psalms 2:12

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity"
• [b]. Or "posterity"