Psalms 37:8

8 Refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret; [it] only brings 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 Then he will bring forth your righteousness like the light, and your justice like the noonday.

7 Be quiet before Yahweh and wait for him. Do not fret about one who succeeds [in] his way, about a man making plots.

8 Refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret; [it] only brings evil.

9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh-- they will possess [the] land.

10 And yet a little [while] and the wicked will not be, and you will look carefully upon his place, but he will not be.