Psalms 37:8

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself: it [would be] only to do 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 he will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth mischievous devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself: it [would be] only to do evil.

9 For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait on Jehovah, they shall possess the land.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked is not; and thou considerest his place, but he is not.