Psalm 37:36

36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

Psalm 37:36 in Other Translations

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

36 But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

36 The next time I looked there was nothing - a punctured bladder, vapid and limp.

36 But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

36 But he moved on, and now there is no trace of him. I searched for him, but he could not be found.

36 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.

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

Psalm 37:36 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 37:36

Yet he passed away
At once, on a sudden; either his riches and honour, which, in one hour, came to nought, by one providence or another; or he himself by death; in the midst of all his prosperity, and while blessing himself in it, his soul was required of him; and so the Targum is, "he ceased from the world"; he went out of it unawares: the laurel, or bay tree, very quickly grows old ^F4;

and, lo, he [was] not;
he was not reduced to nothing; he did not become a nonentity, though he might wish himself to be so; it being better for him if he had never been born; but he was not in the land of the living, in hell he lifted up his eyes;

yea, I sought him, but he could not be found;
in the place where he formerly was, that knowing him no more; he could not be found on earth, from whence he was gone; nor in heaven, where no place is found for such wicked men; he was gone to his own place, as is said of Judas, and of whom Jerom interprets the whole of this passage.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 "Senescit velociter", Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 16. c. 44.

Psalm 37:36 In-Context

34 Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.

Cross References

• 1. ver 10; Proverbs 12:7; Isaiah 41:12; Daniel 11:19; Job 20:5