Psalms 37:8

8 Let go of anger and leave rage behind! Don't get upset—it will only lead to evil.

Psalms 37:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 37:8

Cease from anger
Either at these wicked men who are so prosperous, or at God, who for the present suffers it; see ( Jonah 4:9 ) ( Proverbs 19:3 ) ;

and forsake wrath;
which is anger wrought up to a greater degree; and the rather to be shunned and avoided, as being very disagreeable to the character of a good man;

fret not thyself in any wise to do evil;
evil may be done by fretting at the prosperity of wicked men, or by imitating them, doing as they do, in hope of being prosperous as they are; from which the psalmist dissuades by reasons following.

Psalms 37:8 In-Context

6 and will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like high noon.

7 Be still before the LORD, and wait for him. Don't get upset when someone gets ahead— someone who invents evil schemes.

8 Let go of anger and leave rage behind! Don't get upset—it will only lead to evil.

9 Because evildoers will be eliminated, but those who hope in the LORD— they will possess the land.

10 In just a little while the wicked won't exist! If you go looking around their place, they won't be there.