Salmos 37

1 Salmo 37
Salmo de David.
No te inquietes a causa de los malvados
ni tengas envidia de los que hacen lo malo.

2 Pues como la hierba, pronto se desvanecen;
como las flores de primavera, pronto se marchitan.

3 Confía en el Señor
y haz el bien;
entonces vivirás seguro en la tierra y prosperarás.

4 Deléitate en el Señor
,
y él te concederá los deseos de tu corazón.

5 Entrega al Señor
todo lo que haces;
confía en él, y él te ayudará.

6 Él hará resplandecer tu inocencia como el amanecer,
y la justicia de tu causa brillará como el sol de mediodía.

7 Quédate quieto en la presencia del Señor
,
y espera con paciencia a que él actúe.
No te inquietes por la gente mala que prospera,
ni te preocupes por sus perversas maquinaciones.

8 ¡Ya no sigas enojado!
¡Deja a un lado tu ira!
No pierdas los estribos,
que eso solo trae daño.

9 Pues los perversos serán destruidos,
pero los que confían en el Señor
poseerán la tierra.

10 Pronto los perversos desaparecerán;
por más que los busques, no los encontrarás.

11 Los humildes poseerán la tierra
y vivirán en paz y prosperidad.

12 Los malvados conspiran contra los justos;
les gruñen de manera desafiante.

13 Pero el Señor simplemente se ríe,
porque ve que el día de su juicio se acerca.

14 Los perversos sacan sus espadas
y ponen cuerdas a sus arcos
para matar al pobre y al oprimido,
para masacrar a los que hacen lo correcto.

15 Pero sus espadas atravesarán su propio corazón,
y se les quebrarán los arcos.

16 Es mejor ser justo y tener poco
que ser malvado y rico.

17 Pues la fuerza de los malvados será destrozada,
pero el Señor
cuida a los justos.

18 Día a día el Señor
cuida a los inocentes,
y ellos recibirán una herencia que permanece para siempre.

19 No serán avergonzados en tiempos difíciles;
tendrán más que suficiente aun en tiempo de hambre.

20 Pero los perversos morirán;
los enemigos del Señor
son como las flores del campo,
desaparecerán como el humo.

21 Los perversos piden prestado y nunca pagan,
pero los justos dan con generosidad.

22 Los bendecidos por el Señor
poseerán la tierra,
pero aquellos a quienes él maldice, morirán.

23 El Señor
dirige los pasos de los justos;
se deleita en cada detalle de su vida.

24 Aunque tropiecen, nunca caerán,
porque el Señor
los sostiene de la mano.

25 Una vez fui joven, ahora soy anciano,
sin embargo, nunca he visto abandonado al justo
ni a sus hijos mendigando pan.

26 Los justos siempre prestan con generosidad
y sus hijos son una bendición.

27 Aléjate del mal y haz el bien,
y vivirás en la tierra para siempre.

28 Pues el Señor
ama la justicia
y nunca abandonará a los justos.
Los mantendrá a salvo para siempre,
pero los hijos de los perversos morirán.

29 Los justos poseerán la tierra
y vivirán allí para siempre.

30 Los justos ofrecen buenos consejos;
enseñan a diferenciar entre lo bueno y lo malo.

31 Han hecho suya la ley de Dios,
por eso, nunca resbalarán de su camino.

32 Los malvados esperan en emboscada a los justos,
en busca de una excusa para matarlos.

33 Pero el Señor
no permitirá que los perversos tengan éxito
ni que los justos sean condenados cuando los lleven a juicio.

34 Pon tu esperanza en el Señor
y marcha con paso firme por su camino.
Él te honrará al darte la tierra
y verás destruidos a los perversos.

35 He visto a gente malvada y despiadada
florecer como árboles en tierra fértil.

36 Pero cuando volví a mirar, ¡habían desaparecido!
¡Aunque los busqué, no pude encontrarlos!

37 Miren a los que son buenos y honestos,
porque a los que aman la paz les espera un futuro maravilloso.

38 Pero los rebeldes serán destruidos,
para ellos no hay futuro.

39 El Señor
rescata a los justos;
él es su fortaleza en tiempos de dificultad.

40 El Señor
los ayuda,
los rescata de los malvados.
Él salva a los justos,
y ellos encuentran refugio en él.

Salmos 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.