Psalms 37

1 Don't be upset because of sinful people. Don't be jealous of those who do wrong.

2 Like grass, they will soon dry up. Like green plants, they will soon die.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food.

4 Find your delight in the Lord. Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.

5 Commit your life to the Lord. Here is what he will do if you trust in him.

6 He will make your godly ways shine like the dawn. He will make your honest life shine like the sun at noon.

7 Be still. Be patient. Wait for the LORD to act. Don't be upset when other people succeed. Don't be upset when they carry out their evil plans.

8 Keep from being angry. Turn away from anger. Don't be upset. That only leads to evil.

9 Sinful people will be cut off from the land. But it will be given to those who put their hope in the Lord.

10 In a little while, there won't be any more sinners. Even if you look for them, you won't be able to find them.

11 But those who are free of pride will be given the land. They will enjoy great peace.

12 Sinful people make plans to harm those who do what is right. They grind their teeth at them.

13 But the Lord laughs at those who do evil. He knows the day is coming when he will judge them.

14 Sinners pull out their swords. They bend their bows. They want to kill poor and needy people. They plan to murder those who lead honest lives.

15 But they will be killed with their own swords. Their own bows will be broken.

16 Those who do what is right may have very little. But it's better than the wealth of many sinners.

17 The power of those who are evil will be broken. But the LORD takes good care of those who do what is right.

18 Every day the LORD watches over those who are without blame. What he has given them will last forever.

19 When trouble comes to them, they will have what they need. When there is little food in the land, they will still have plenty.

20 But sinful people will die. The LORD's enemies will be like flowers in the field. They will disappear like smoke.

21 Sinful people borrow and don't pay back. But those who are godly give freely to others.

22 The LORD will give the land to those he blesses. But he will cut off those he puts a curse on.

23 If the LORD is pleased with the way a man lives, he makes his steps secure.

24 Even if the man trips, he won't fall. The Lord's hand takes good care of him.

25 I once was young, and now I'm old. But I've never seen godly people deserted. I've never seen their children begging for bread.

26 The godly are always giving and lending freely. Their children will be blessed.

27 Turn away from evil and do good. Then you will live in the land forever.

28 The LORD loves those who are honest. He will not desert those who are faithful to him. They will be kept safe forever. But the children of sinners will be cut off from the land.

29 Those who do what is right will be given the land. They will live in it forever.

30 The mouths of those who do what is right speak words of wisdom. They say what is honest.

31 God's law is in their hearts. Their feet do not slip.

32 Those who are evil hide and wait for godly people. They are trying to kill them.

33 But the LORD will not leave the godly in their power. He will not let them be found guilty when they are brought into court.

34 Wait for the LORD to act. Live as he wants you to. He will honor you by giving you the land. When sinners are cut off from it, you will see it.

35 I saw a mean and sinful person. He was doing well, like a green tree in its own soil.

36 But he soon passed away and was gone. Even though I looked for him, I couldn't find him.

37 Think about those who are without blame. Look at those who are honest. A man who loves peace will have a tomorrow.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed. Those who are evil won't have a tomorrow. They will be cut off from the land.

39 The LORD saves those who do what is right. He is their place of safety when trouble comes.

40 The LORD helps them and saves them. He saves them from sinful people because they go to him for safety.

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.

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.