Psalms 37:16-26

16 Better is a little that the righteous 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 for ever;

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

20 But the wicked perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures, they vanish--like smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows, and cannot pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

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

23 The steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose way he delights;

24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD is the stay of his hand.

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

26 He is ever giving liberally and lending, and his children become a blessing.

Psalms 37:16-26 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.