Psalm 37:8

8 Desist from anger, and forsake fury, Fret not thyself only to do evil.

Psalm 37:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 37:8

Cease from anger
Either at these wicked men who are so prosperous, or at God, who for the present suffers it; see ( Jonah 4:9 ) ( Proverbs 19:3 ) ;

and forsake wrath;
which is anger wrought up to a greater degree; and the rather to be shunned and avoided, as being very disagreeable to the character of a good man;

fret not thyself in any wise to do evil;
evil may be done by fretting at the prosperity of wicked men, or by imitating them, doing as they do, in hope of being prosperous as they are; from which the psalmist dissuades by reasons following.

Psalm 37:8 In-Context

6 And hath brought out as light thy righteousness, And thy judgment as noon-day.

7 Be silent for Jehovah, and stay thyself for Him, Do not fret because of him Who is making prosperous his way, Because of a man doing wicked devices.

8 Desist from anger, and forsake fury, Fret not thyself only to do evil.

9 For evil doers are cut off, As to those waiting on Jehovah, they possess the land.

10 And yet a little, and the wicked is not, And thou hast considered his place, and it is not.