Psalms 37:34

34 Abide thou the Lord, and keep thou his way, and he shall enhance thee, that by heritage thou take the land; when sinners shall perish, thou shalt see. (Wait thou for the Lord, and keep thou to his way, and he shall raise thee up, or shall exalt thee, so that thou take the land by inheritance; and when the sinners shall perish, thou shalt see it.)

Psalms 37:34 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 37:34

Wait on the Lord
In the way of his appointments and ordinances; where may be learned the design of his providences, and of the prosperity of the wicked, and their end, ( Psalms 73:16-18 ) ; and in a providential way, for the performance of his promises, in which he never fails; and patiently bear whatever he is pleased to lay upon them; waiting for a deliverance out of every affliction, which will be in his own time. The Chaldee paraphrase

``trust in the word of the Lord;''

and keep his way:
which he has pointed out in his word, and has directed his people to walk in; though tempted by Satan to turn aside to the right hand or the left; though wicked men reproach, persecute, and seek to pervert it; and though a narrow and rough way, yet keep constantly in it, in which there are both pleasure and profit; good comes of it, and in it peace is had, and the presence of God enjoyed;

and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land:
that is, shall raise out of a low and uncomfortable situation of life to a more comfortable one; or however, hereafter, to dwell in the new heavens and new earth, to reign with Christ upon his throne, and to enjoy the eternal inheritance;

when the wicked are cut off;
as in ( Psalms 37:9 Psalms 37:22 Psalms 37:28 ) ;

thou shall see [it];
with joy and pleasure; not as exulting: in the destruction of the wicked, simply considered; but as the glory of divine justice is displayed therein; see ( Psalms 52:5 Psalms 52:6 ) .

Psalms 37:34 In-Context

32 A sinner beholdeth a just man; and seeketh to slay him.

33 But the Lord shall not forsake him in his hands; neither he shall condemn him, when it shall be deemed against him.

34 Abide thou the Lord, and keep thou his way, and he shall enhance thee, that by heritage thou take the land; when sinners shall perish, thou shalt see. (Wait thou for the Lord, and keep thou to his way, and he shall raise thee up, or shall exalt thee, so that thou take the land by inheritance; and when the sinners shall perish, thou shalt see it.)

35 I saw the wicked man enhanced above; and raised up as the cedars of Lebanon. (Once I saw a wicked man exalted; yea, raised up as high as the cedars in Lebanon.)

36 And I passed (And then I passed by later), and lo! he was not (there); I sought him, and his place was not found.