Psalm 37:35-40

35 I have ¹seen a wicked, violent man Spreading himself like a ²luxuriant tree in its native soil.

36 Then he passed away, and lo, he ³was no more; I sought for him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the ⁴blameless man, and behold the ⁵upright; For the man of peace will have a ⁶posterity.

38 But transgressors will be altogether ⁷destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be ⁸cut off.

39 But the ⁹salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength ¹⁰in time of trouble.

40 ¹¹The LORD helps them and delivers them; He ¹²delivers them from the wicked and saves them, Because they ¹³take refuge in Him.

Psalm 37:35-40 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Job 5:3; Jeremiah 12:2
• 2. Job 8:16
• 3. Job 20:5; Psalms 37:10
• 4. Psalms 37:18
• 5. Psalms 7:10
• 6. Isaiah 57:1, 2
• 7. Psalms 1:4-6; Psalms 37:20, 28
• 8. Psalms 37:9; Psalms 73:17
• 9. Psalms 3:8; Psalms 62:1
• 10. Psalms 9:9; Psalms 37:19
• 11. Psalms 54:4
• 12. Psalms 22:4; Isaiah 31:5; Daniel 3:17; Daniel 6:23
• 13. 1 Chronicles 5:20; Psalms 34:22

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "native;" Heb obscure
• [b] Ancient versions read "I passed by"
• [c] Lit "complete;" or "perfect"
• [d] Lit "an end"
• [e] Lit "end"