Psalms 37

The Protection of the Righteous and the Destruction of the Wicked

1

Of David.

1 Do not fret because of evildoers; do not be envious of doers of wickedness.

2 For like the grass they will dry up quickly, and like green vegetation they will wither.

3 Trust Yahweh and do good. Abide [in the] land and feed on faithfulness.

4 Take pleasure in Yahweh as well, and he will give to you the requests of your heart.

5 {Commit to} Yahweh your way; Trust also on him and he will act.

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.

11 But [the] afflicted will possess [the] land, and they will take pleasure in an abundance of peace.

12 [The] wicked plans [evil] against the righteous, and gnashes at him [with] his teeth.

13 [The] Lord laughs at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

14 [The] wicked have drawn [the] sword and have bent their bow to throw down [the] poor and [the] needy, to kill [those] upright in [their] way.

15 Their sword will enter into their [own] heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 [The] little belonging to the righteous [is] better than [the] wealth of many wicked.

17 For [the] arms of [the] wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh supports [the] righteous.

18 Yahweh knows [the] days of [the] blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.

19 They will not be put to shame in distressing times, and in [the] days of famine they will be satisfied.

20 But [the] wicked will perish, and the enemies of Yahweh [will be] like [the] splendor of [the] pastures. They vanish; in smoke they vanish.

21 [The] wicked borrows and does not repay, but [the] righteous [is] gracious and gives.

22 For those blessed [by] him shall possess [the] land, but those cursed [by] him shall be cut off.

23 [The] steps of a man are established by Yahweh, and he takes pleasure in his way.

24 Though he fall, he will not be cast headlong, for Yahweh supports [him with] his hand.

25 I was a youth, but I am [now] old; yet I have not seen [the] righteous forsaken or his children {begging for} bread.

26 All the day he [is] gracious and lends, and his children [are] a blessing.

27 Turn aside from evil and do good and [so] abide forever.

28 For Yahweh loves justice and will not forsake his faithful ones. They are protected forever. But [the] children of [the] wicked will be cut off.

29 [The] righteous will possess [the] land and abide in it forever.

30 [The] mouth of [the] righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

31 The law of his God [is] in his heart. His steps will not slip.

32 [The] wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to kill him.

33 Yahweh will not abandon him into his hand, and he will not let him be condemned when he is judged.

34 Wait for Yahweh and keep his way, and he will exalt you to possess [the] land. When [the] wicked are cut off, you will see [it].

35 I have seen [the] wicked acting violently and spreading himself out like a luxuriant native tree.

36 Then he passed on and behold, he was not. And I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Observe [the] blameless and look at [the] upright, for [there is] a future for a man of peace.

38 But transgressors shall be destroyed altogether. [The] future of [the] wicked shall be cut off.

39 And [the] salvation of [the] righteous [is] from Yahweh, their refuge in [the] time of trouble.

40 And Yahweh helps them and he rescues them. He rescues them from [the] wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Psalms 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the state of the godly and of the wicked.

Verses 1-6 When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are prone to do like them: but this we are warned against. Outward prosperity is fading. When we look forward, with an eye of faith, we shall see no reason to envy the wicked. Their weeping and wailing will be everlasting. The life of religion is a believing trust in the Lord, and diligent care to serve him according to his will. It is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. A man's life consists not in abundance, but, Thou shalt have food convenient for thee. This is more than we deserve, and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. To delight in God is as much a privilege as a duty. He has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humours of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God. Commit thy way unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord, so the margin reads it. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, the burden of thy care. We must roll it off ourselves, not afflict and perplex ourselves with thoughts about future events, but refer them to God. By prayer spread thy case and all thy cares before the Lord, and trust in him. We must do our duty, and then leave the event with God. The promise is very sweet: He shall bring that to pass, whatever it is, which thou has committed to him.

Verses 7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. God knows the believer's days. Not one day's work shall go unrewarded. Their time on earth is reckoned by days, which will soon be numbered; but heavenly happiness shall be for ever. This will be a real support to believers in evil times. Those that rest on the Rock of ages, have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.

Verses 21-33 The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.

Verses 34-40 Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking ( psalms 37:35-36 ) But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
• [b]. That is, God's faithfulness
• [c]. Literally "Roll upon"
• [d]. Or "But"
• [e]. Hebrew "time"
• [f]. Literally "searching"
• [g]. Dead Sea Scrolls and the versions read "I passed by"
• [h]. Some manuscripts omit "and," preserving the acrostic

Chapter Summary

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.