Psalms37

Psalm 37 counsels against fretting over the temporary prosperity of the wicked, for their success is fleeting and they shall soon wither away. Instead, it exhorts the righteous to trust in the Lord, delight in Him, and commit their ways to Him. The psalm assures that the meek and upright shall inherit the earth and be sustained, while evildoers will be cut off and perish.
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Do Not Fret, But Trust the Lord

1
Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. ​
2
For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. ​
3
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. ​
4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. ​
5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. ​
6
He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. ​

Rest in the Lord and Wait Patiently

7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. ​
8
Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
9
For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ​
10
Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11
But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity. ​

The Short-Lived Triumph of the Wicked

12
The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
13
but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. ​
14
The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
15
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16
Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. ​
17
For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18
The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever. ​
19
In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
20
But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away. ​

The Security and Provision of the Righteous

21
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. ​
22
Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.
23
The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. ​
24
Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
25
I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. ​
26
They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
27
Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
28
For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. ​
29
The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. ​
31
The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. ​
32
Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
33
the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.

Wait on the Lord and Observe His Justice

34
Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. ​
35
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
36
yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.
37
Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace. ​
38
But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. ​
40
The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.

Study Notes for Psalms 37

Verse 1

This psalm, structured acrostically, addresses the ancient problem of theodicy: why the wicked prosper. David’s central instruction is to avoid envy or anxiety concerning evildoers, as these emotions tempt the believer toward sin.

Verse 2

The prosperity of the wicked is temporary, likened here to grass that quickly grows but soon withers. This metaphor emphasizes the fleeting nature of their success compared to eternity.

Verse 3

The remedy for anxiety is active faith: trust (internal dependence) and doing good (external action). The promise of dwelling in the land and provision reflects covenant blessings.

Verse 4

To 'delight thyself also in the LORD' means finding one’s deepest satisfaction in God alone. This alignment of the heart ensures that the resulting 'desires' are congruent with God's will.

Verse 5

The phrase 'Commit thy way' (Hebrew: *gōl*) literally means 'roll your burden upon' the LORD. It demands complete surrender and reliance on God’s sovereign plan.

Verse 6

Vindication is promised. God will make the righteousness of the afflicted believer shine forth clearly, like the brightness of the midday sun, assuring public justice.

Verse 7

The word 'Rest' (Hebrew: *dûm*) implies silence, submission, and quiet expectation before God. It is a command to stop striving and worrying about the immediate success of evil men.

Verse 9

This verse introduces the theme of inheritance, which is a major focus of the psalm. Those who wait on the LORD, remaining faithful, will receive the lasting covenant blessing.

Verse 11

The meek (*anawim*) are the humble, afflicted, and dependent upon God. Jesus quotes this verse in the Beatitudes (Matt 5:5), extending the promise of inheriting the earth to all future believers.

Verse 13

God’s reaction to the plotting of the wicked is derision. He laughs because, from His eternal perspective, the wicked’s day of judgment is already fixed and imminent.

Verse 16

This proverb contrasts the instability of great wicked wealth with the security and moral superiority of even a small amount possessed by a righteous person.

Verse 18

God intimately knows and watches over the entire lifespan of the upright. Their 'inheritance shall be for ever,' emphasizing the eternal security of the believer.

Verse 20

The fate of the wicked is consumption, likened to the smoke of sacrificial fat, signifying complete disappearance and destruction.

Verse 21

This verse illustrates the ethical contrast: the wicked are often morally bankrupt and exploitative, while the righteous are characterized by mercy and generosity.

Verse 23

The steps of the righteous are divinely guided (*ordered*). This assurance means that even when the path is difficult, it is ultimately pleasing to God.

Verse 25

David offers his personal, lifelong testimony to confirm the covenant promises of God regarding provision for the righteous and their descendants.

Verse 28

God loves judgment (justice) and faithfully preserves His saints. The contrast between the preservation of the righteous and the cutting off of the wicked underscores divine moral order.

Verse 30

The righteous person’s speech is a reflection of his inner life, characterized by wisdom and moral guidance (judgment).

Verse 31

This verse describes deep commitment: the law is internalized (*in his heart*), ensuring stability and obedience in his actions.

Verse 34

This final exhortation summarizes the psalm's theme: persevere in patience and obedience, and the believer will witness God’s final act of justice in exalting the faithful and destroying the wicked.

Verse 37

The reader is instructed to observe the final outcome (*end*) of the upright man. Despite temporary trials, his destiny is peace (*shalom*), wholeness, and security.

Verse 39

The psalm concludes with a declaration of theological dependence: salvation (deliverance from trouble) is ultimately a sovereign act of the LORD, rooted in the believer’s trust.

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