Psalms 37:12-32

12 The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly;

15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever;

19 they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked perish, and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving;

22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way;

24 though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

26 They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide forever.

28 For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. The righteous shall be kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak justice.

31 The law of their God is in their hearts; their steps do not slip.

32 The wicked watch for the righteous, and seek to kill them.

Psalms 37:12-32 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb [A man's steps]
• [b]. Heb [his]
• [c]. Heb [he stumbles]
• [d]. Heb [he]
• [e]. Heb [him]