Psalms 37:8-18

8 Let go of anger, and leave rage behind. Do not be preoccupied. It only leads to evil.

9 Evildoers will be cut off [from their inheritance], but those who wait with hope for the LORD will inherit the land.

10 In a little while a wicked person will vanish. Then you can carefully examine where he was, but there will be no trace of him.

11 Oppressed people will inherit the land and will enjoy unlimited peace.

12 The wicked person plots against a righteous one and grits his teeth at him.

13 The Lord laughs at him because he has seen that his time is coming.

14 Wicked people pull out their swords and bend their bows to kill oppressed and needy people, to slaughter those who are decent.

15 [But] their own swords will pierce their hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16 The little that the righteous person has is better than the wealth of many wicked people.

17 The arms of wicked people will be broken, but the LORD continues to support righteous people.

18 The LORD knows the daily [struggles] of innocent people. Their inheritance will last forever.

Psalms 37:8-18 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.