Tehillim 37

1 7 (Of Dovid) Fret not thyself because of re’im (evildoers); neither have thou kina (jealousy, envy) of the workers of iniquity.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the khatzir (grass), and wither as the green desheh (herb, plant).

3 Trust in Hashem, and do tov; so shalt thou dwell in the Eretz (land), ure’eh emunah (and thou be pastured securely).

4 Delight thyself also in Hashem, and He shall give thee the desires of thine lev.

5 Commit thy derech (road, way) unto Hashem; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.

6 And He shall bring forth thy tzedakah (righteousness) as the ohr (light), and thy mishpat (justice) as the tzohorayim (noonday).

7 Rest in Hashem, and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his derech, because of the ish who bringeth wicked schemes to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake chemah (wrath); fret not thyself in any wise to do rah.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon Hashem, they shall inherit the Eretz (land).

10 For yet a little while, and the rasha shall not be; yes, thou shalt watch his place, and he will not be.

11 But the anavim (meek ones) shall inherit Eretz; and shall delight themselves in rov shalom (great peace; see Psa 119:165).

12 The rasha plotteth against the tzaddik, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13 Adonoi shall laugh at him, for He seeth that his yom is coming.

14 The resha’im have drawn out the cherev, and have bent their keshet, to cast down the oni (poor) and evyon (needy), and to slay such as be yishrei derech (upright ones on the road, that walk uprightly).

15 Their cherev shall enter into their own lev, and their keshatot (bows) shall be broken.

16 A little that a tzaddik hath is better than the riches of resha’im rabbim.

17 For the zero’ot (arms, powers) of the resha’im shall be broken; but Hashem upholdeth the tzaddikim.

18 Hashem knoweth the yamim of the temimim (blameless ones); and their nachalah (inheritance) shall be l’olahm (forever).

19 They shall not be put to shame in time of evil; and in the days of famine yisba’u (they shall be satisfied, enjoy plenty).

20 But the resha’im shall perish, and the oyvei Hashem (enemies of Hashem) shall be like the glory of the meadows; they shall disappear like ashan (smoke), they shall vanish.

21 The rasha borroweth, and repayeth not; but the tzaddik showeth chonen (generosity), and giveth.

22 For such as be blessed of Him shall inherit Eretz; and they that be cursed of Him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a gever (man) konanu (are ordered, made firm) by Hashem and He delighteth in his derech.

24 Though he stumble, he shall not utterly fall; for Hashem upholdeth him with His yad (hand, power).

25 I have been na’ar (young), and now am old; yet I have not seen the tzaddik forsaken, nor his zera begging lechem.

26 He is ever chonen (generous, merciful; see verse 21), and lendeth; and his zera is blessed.

27 Depart from rah, and do tov; and dwell l’olahm (for evermore).

28 For Hashem loveth mishpat, and forsaketh not His chasidim; they are preserved l’olahm; but the zera resha’im shall be cut off.

29 The tzaddikim shall inherit Eretz, and dwell therein forever.

30 The mouth of the tzaddik speaketh chochmah, and his leshon uttereth mishpat.

31 The torat Elohav is in his lev; no steps of his shall slip.

32 The rashah lieth in wait to ambush the tzaddik, and seeketh to slay him.

33 Hashem will not leave him in his yad (hand, power), nor condemn him b’hishshafto (when he is judged, brought to trial).

34 Wait on Hashem, and be shomer over His Derech, and He shall exalt thee to inherit Eretz; when the resha’im are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the violently powerful rashah, spreading himself like an indigenous green tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and, hinei, he was no more; yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the yashar (upright); for the end of that ish is shalom.

38 But the poshe’im (rebels, transgressors) shall be made shmad together; the latter end [i.e., future] of the resha’im shall be cut off.

39 But the Teshu’at Tzaddikim is of Hashem; He is their ma’oz (stronghold, refuge) in the time of tzoros.

40 And Hashem helps them, and delivers them; He shall deliver them from the resha’im, and save them, because they take refuge in Him.

Tehillim 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.