1 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. |
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. |
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. |
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. |
17 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. |
19 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. |
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. |
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. |
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. |
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. |
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. |
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. |
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. |
28 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. |
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. |
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. |
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. |
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. |
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. |
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. |
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. |
36 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. |
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. |
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. |
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. |
37 David exhorts to patience and confidence in God, Psa 37:1-8.
Shews the different state of the righteous and the wicked, Psa 37:9-40.
A psalm of David.
37:1 Fret not - Because they prosper in their wicked enterprizes.
37:5 Commit - All thy cares and business, and necessities, commend to God by fervent prayer.
37:6 Judgment - It shall be as visible to men, as the light of the sun, at noon - day.
37:7 Rest - Do not repine at his dealings, but quietly submit to his will, and wait for his help.
37:8 Fret not - Either against the sinner for his success; or against God. Do evil - If grief arise in thee, take care that it do not transport thee to sin.
37:9 The earth - This for the most part was literally fulfilled in that state of the church.
37:10 Not be - He shall be dead and gone. Diligently - Industriously seeking him. His place - His place and estate, and glory.
37:11 But - Those who patiently bear God's afflicting hand, and meekly pass by injuries. Peace - Partly of outward peace and prosperity, which God in his due time will give them: but principally of inward peace, in the sense of God's favour and the assurance of endless happiness.
37:13 His day - The day appointed by God for his punishment or destruction.
37:18 Knoweth - Observes with care and affection. The days - All things which befal them, their dangers and fears, and suffering.For ever - To them and their seed for ever: and when they die their inheritance is not lost, but exchanged for one infinitely better.
37:20 Fat - Which in an instant melts before the fire.
37:23 Established - So that he shall not fall into mischief.
37:24 Fall - Into trouble.
37:25 Forsaken - These temporal promises, were more express to the Jews in the times of the Old Testament, than to Christians.
37:26 Blessed - Not only with spiritual, but with temporal blessings.
37:27 Dwell - Thou shalt dwell in the land, and afterwards in heaven.
37:30 The mouth - Having shewed, God's singular care over the righteous, he proceeds to give a character of them. Judgment - Of God's judgment, word or law.
37:31 Heart - His thoughts, meditations and affections are fixed upon it. Slide - Slide, or swerve, from the rule, from God's law.
37:35 Bay - tree - Which is continually green and flourishing even in winter.
37:36 Yet - He was gone in an instant. But - There was no monument or remainder of him left.
37:37 Peace - Though he may meet with troubles in his way, yet all shall end well.
37:38 Together - All without exception.