Side by side
Psalm 37
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: Do Not FretVerses 1 to 11
"Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong" (37:1).
The psalm opens with a command, not an explanation. Wait for the why.
"For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants" (37:2).
The explanation arrives immediately. Evildoers are not permanent.
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness" (37:3). "Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart" (37:4).
Four commands: trust, do good, dwell, delight. The promise hangs on the last one.
"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it" (37:5).
"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" (37:7).
Stillness is not passivity. It is the posture of someone who has committed the outcome to God.
"Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm" (37:8).
Fretting does not fix the wicked. It only hurts the one who frets.
"But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity" (37:11).
Jesus will quote this. The meek — not the powerful — receive the promise.
1Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. 2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. 3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. 6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. 7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. 8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. 9For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. 10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
Section 2: The Wicked and the RighteousVerses 12 to 29
"The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming" (37:12–13).
The wicked rage. God laughs — not in cruelty, but in full knowledge of the outcome.
"The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken" (37:14–15).
"Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked" (37:16).
"For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous" (37:17).
"I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread" (37:25).
David speaks from long experience. He has watched both the wicked and the righteous across a lifetime.
"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" (37:28).
12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, 13but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. 14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. 15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. 18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever. 19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied. 20But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away. 21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. 22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed. 23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. 24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. 25I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. 26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing. 27Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever. 28For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. 29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
Section 3: The Righteous Will InheritVerses 30 to 40
"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." (37:34).
"I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree" (37:35).
"yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found" (37:36).
David has seen this in real life. The fearsome wicked man — gone.
"Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace" (37:37).
"The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble" (37:39).
"The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him" (37:40).
The psalm ends where it began: not with the wicked, but with God. The refuge is the point.
30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. 32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, 33the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment. 34Wait 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. 35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, 36yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. 37Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace. 38But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. 39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.
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