Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
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.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
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.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
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 wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
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.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
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.
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Psalms 37, nestled within the first division of Psalms, resonates with the practical wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. It offers guidance on navigating life's complexities, particularly the seeming paradox of the righteous suffering while the wicked prosper. David, likely drawing on a lifetime of experience, perhaps even in his later years, penned this psalm as a comforting word to those struggling with this very issue. The psalm encourages believers to trust in the Lord, delight themselves in Him, commit their way to Him, and wait patiently for Him.
Fret Not: Trusting God's Timing (37:1-6)
David begins by addressing a very human emotion: fretfulness. The Hebrew word translated as "fret" carries the connotation of burning or intense heat, suggesting a consuming anxiety. He urges us not to be consumed by anger or anxiety over the apparent success of evildoers. Their prosperity, he assures us, is fleeting, like grass that withers quickly under the sun (Psalms 37:1-2).
The alternative to fretting is trust. David provides a pathway to peace: "Trust in the LORD, and do good" (Psalms 37:3). This isn't a passive trust, but an active engagement with goodness. He continues, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4). This verse doesn't promise instant gratification, but rather suggests that when our hearts are aligned with God's, our desires will reflect His will, and He will fulfill them. When your thinking and desires match His, you can expect God's movement in your life. He desires to bless you more than you want to be blessed.
"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act" (Psalms 37:5). Entrust your entire life to the King's agenda, and He will act on your behalf with righteousness and justice (Psalms 37:5-6). This requires surrendering control and trusting in God's plan, even when we don't fully understand it.
Wait Expectantly: God's Justice Will Prevail (37:7-15)
The psalm shifts our focus from the wicked to God. "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalms 37:7). We are not to merely wait, but to wait with expectation—confident that He will respond when our "trust" and "delight" are "in Him" (Psalms 37:3-5).
David reminds us that vengeance belongs to God; He will repay (Deuteronomy 32:35). The Lord knows that the wicked person’s day is coming when he will fall by his own schemes (Psalms 37:12-15). Those who look to and submit to God will experience provision and peace (Psalms 37:9, 11)—and will receive their duly allotted inheritance (see Matthew 5:5).
God's Enduring Provision: More Than Enough (37:16-26)
"Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked" (Psalms 37:16). This verse challenges our materialistic tendencies. True wealth lies not in possessions, but in a relationship with God. No matter how much the wicked acquire, eventually they will be broken, fade away, destroyed (Psalms 37:17, 20, 22).
No matter how little the righteous have, however, the Lord supports and watches over them (Psalms 37:17-18). Their inheritance will last forever (Psalms 37:18). God will keep their blessings secure until the time is right to dispense them—sometimes in history, but mostly in eternity. He is a loving Father to His people. Even when they fall, He holds them with His hand in a gentle but firm grip (Psalms 37:24). God’s children will not be abandoned. Instead, He is generous to them so that they, in turn, are a blessing to others (Psalms 37:25-26). David emphasizes the importance of righteousness and generosity. He declares that he has never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread (Psalms 37:25).
Choose Good, Reject Evil: An Eternal Perspective (37:27-40)
David further contrasts the righteous and the wicked regarding their eternal destinies. The posterity of the wicked will be wiped out (Psalms 37:28). Though a wicked, violent person seems to be flourishing at present, the Lord will uproot him so that he is no longer found (Psalms 37:35-36). His future will be destroyed (Psalms 37:38). But, those who turn away from evil and do what is good will dwell permanently (Psalms 37:27, 29). The one who follows God will have a future (Psalms 37:37).
David concludes by highlighting God's role as our refuge and deliverer. "The LORD is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him" (Psalms 37:39-40). Make the Lord your refuge, your shelter, and He will deliver you (Psalms 37:39-40).
Psalms 37 offers a timeless message of hope and encouragement. It reminds us that God sees, God knows, and God will ultimately bring justice and peace to those who trust in Him. It calls us to focus on righteousness, generosity, and dependence on God, rather than being consumed by the fleeting success of the wicked. By making the Lord our refuge, we can find peace and security in His unwavering love and provision.
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
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.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
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.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
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 wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
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.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
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.
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Psalms 37, nestled within the first division of Psalms, resonates with the practical wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. It offers guidance on navigating life's complexities, particularly the seeming paradox of the righteous suffering while the wicked prosper. David, likely drawing on a lifetime of experience, perhaps even in his later years, penned this psalm as a comforting word to those struggling with this very issue. The psalm encourages believers to trust in the Lord, delight themselves in Him, commit their way to Him, and wait patiently for Him.
Fret Not: Trusting God's Timing (37:1-6)
David begins by addressing a very human emotion: fretfulness. The Hebrew word translated as "fret" carries the connotation of burning or intense heat, suggesting a consuming anxiety. He urges us not to be consumed by anger or anxiety over the apparent success of evildoers. Their prosperity, he assures us, is fleeting, like grass that withers quickly under the sun (Psalms 37:1-2).
The alternative to fretting is trust. David provides a pathway to peace: "Trust in the LORD, and do good" (Psalms 37:3). This isn't a passive trust, but an active engagement with goodness. He continues, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalms 37:4). This verse doesn't promise instant gratification, but rather suggests that when our hearts are aligned with God's, our desires will reflect His will, and He will fulfill them. When your thinking and desires match His, you can expect God's movement in your life. He desires to bless you more than you want to be blessed.
"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act" (Psalms 37:5). Entrust your entire life to the King's agenda, and He will act on your behalf with righteousness and justice (Psalms 37:5-6). This requires surrendering control and trusting in God's plan, even when we don't fully understand it.
Wait Expectantly: God's Justice Will Prevail (37:7-15)
The psalm shifts our focus from the wicked to God. "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalms 37:7). We are not to merely wait, but to wait with expectation—confident that He will respond when our "trust" and "delight" are "in Him" (Psalms 37:3-5).
David reminds us that vengeance belongs to God; He will repay (Deuteronomy 32:35). The Lord knows that the wicked person’s day is coming when he will fall by his own schemes (Psalms 37:12-15). Those who look to and submit to God will experience provision and peace (Psalms 37:9, 11)—and will receive their duly allotted inheritance (see Matthew 5:5).
God's Enduring Provision: More Than Enough (37:16-26)
"Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked" (Psalms 37:16). This verse challenges our materialistic tendencies. True wealth lies not in possessions, but in a relationship with God. No matter how much the wicked acquire, eventually they will be broken, fade away, destroyed (Psalms 37:17, 20, 22).
No matter how little the righteous have, however, the Lord supports and watches over them (Psalms 37:17-18). Their inheritance will last forever (Psalms 37:18). God will keep their blessings secure until the time is right to dispense them—sometimes in history, but mostly in eternity. He is a loving Father to His people. Even when they fall, He holds them with His hand in a gentle but firm grip (Psalms 37:24). God’s children will not be abandoned. Instead, He is generous to them so that they, in turn, are a blessing to others (Psalms 37:25-26). David emphasizes the importance of righteousness and generosity. He declares that he has never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread (Psalms 37:25).
Choose Good, Reject Evil: An Eternal Perspective (37:27-40)
David further contrasts the righteous and the wicked regarding their eternal destinies. The posterity of the wicked will be wiped out (Psalms 37:28). Though a wicked, violent person seems to be flourishing at present, the Lord will uproot him so that he is no longer found (Psalms 37:35-36). His future will be destroyed (Psalms 37:38). But, those who turn away from evil and do what is good will dwell permanently (Psalms 37:27, 29). The one who follows God will have a future (Psalms 37:37).
David concludes by highlighting God's role as our refuge and deliverer. "The LORD is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him" (Psalms 37:39-40). Make the Lord your refuge, your shelter, and He will deliver you (Psalms 37:39-40).
Psalms 37 offers a timeless message of hope and encouragement. It reminds us that God sees, God knows, and God will ultimately bring justice and peace to those who trust in Him. It calls us to focus on righteousness, generosity, and dependence on God, rather than being consumed by the fleeting success of the wicked. By making the Lord our refuge, we can find peace and security in His unwavering love and provision.