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
A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. ​
2
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. ​
3
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. ​
4
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ​
5
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ​
6
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. ​

Rest in the Lord and Wait Patiently

7
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. ​
8
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. ​
10
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. ​

The Short-Lived Triumph of the Wicked

12
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. ​
14
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
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A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. ​
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For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. ​
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They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. ​

The Security and Provision of the Righteous

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The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. ​
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For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
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The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. ​
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Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
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I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ​
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He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
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Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
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For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. ​
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The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
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The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. ​
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The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. ​
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The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
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The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the Lord and Observe His Justice

34
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. ​
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I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
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Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. ​
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But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
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But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. ​
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And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust 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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