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Psalms 37

World English Bible

WEB

1By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. 4Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: 6he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun. 7Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. 8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land. 10For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. 11But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. 14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path. 15Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken. 16Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous. 18Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. 19They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke. 21The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. 22For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off. 23A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. 24Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand. 25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. 26All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed. 27Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. 28For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. 30The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. 31The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide. 32The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him. 33Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. 35I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. 36But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 38As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 37 is a profound meditation on the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, encouraging believers to trust in the Lord amidst the apparent prosperity of evildoers. The psalm opens with a call not to fret because of those who do wrong, for they will soon fade like grass (Psalm 37:1-2). Instead, the faithful are urged to “trust in the Lord and do good” (Psalm 37:3), promising that they will dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. This chapter emphasizes the importance of delighting in the Lord, who will grant the desires of the heart (Psalm 37:4), and committing one’s way to Him, assuring that He will act on their behalf (Psalm 37:5). The imagery of the righteous being like a tree planted by streams of water (Psalm 1:3) resonates throughout, symbolizing stability and nourishment in God’s presence.

The psalmist further reassures the faithful that while the wicked may seem to flourish, their end is destruction (Psalm 37:10). The righteous, in contrast, will inherit the land and enjoy peace (Psalm 37:11). The chapter concludes with a powerful reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness to the righteous, stating that He will not abandon them in their time of need (Psalm 37:25-26). This psalm serves as a timeless encouragement for believers to remain steadfast in faith, trusting in God’s justice and provision, even when circumstances appear challenging.

In summary, Psalms 37 calls us to trust in the Lord, to delight in His ways, and to remember that the ultimate victory belongs to the righteous. It reassures us that God is aware of our struggles and will uphold us as we seek to live according to His will. #Psalms #TrustInTheLord #RighteousVsWicked

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Referenced by

  1. Ruth 3:18v7In Ruth 3:18, Naomi advises Ruth to wait patiently for Boaz's action, which parallels the call to 'be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him' in Psalm 37:7, emphasizing trust and patience in God's timing.
  2. Job 4:7v25In Job 4:7, Eliphaz questions if the innocent ever perish, suggesting a belief that suffering is a result of sin. Psalm 37:25 reflects a similar theme, where David observes that the righteous are not forsaken, implying a connection between righteousness and divine favor.
  3. Job 8:20v28Job 8:20 asserts that God does not reject a blameless person, which is supported by Psalm 37:28, affirming that the Lord loves justice and will not forsake His saints.
  4. Job 18:21v28Job 18:21 concludes with the fate of the wicked being a dwelling place of horror, which aligns with Psalm 37:28, where the wicked are cut off and their place is no more.
  5. Job 20:5v35Job 20:5 speaks of the fleeting joy of the wicked, which is echoed in Psalm 37:35-36 where the wicked are described as flourishing temporarily but ultimately passing away.
  6. Job 24:22v35Job 24:22 describes the apparent prosperity of the wicked, which is also addressed in Psalm 37:35-36, where the wicked flourish like a green tree but soon pass away.
  7. Psalms 73:17v38Psalm 73:17 speaks of understanding the end of the wicked when entering the sanctuary of God, which is echoed in Psalm 37:38, where the future of the wicked is described as being cut off.
  8. Psalms 92:7v2Psalm 92:7 describes the temporary flourishing of the wicked, a concept also found in Psalm 37:2, which states that the wicked will soon fade like grass.
  9. Psalms 102:28v29Psalm 102:28 promises the enduring presence of God's people, similar to Psalm 37:29, which assures that the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
  10. Proverbs 16:3v5Proverbs 16:3 advises committing one's works to the Lord for success, which parallels Psalm 37:5's encouragement to commit one's way to the Lord and trust in Him.
  11. Proverbs 23:17v1Proverbs 23:17 encourages not to envy sinners but to fear the Lord. Psalm 37:1-2 similarly advises not to fret because of evildoers, as they will soon fade away.
  12. Proverbs 24:1v1Both Proverbs 24:1 and Psalm 37:1 advise against envying the wicked, emphasizing the futility and danger of desiring their ways.
  13. Ecclesiastes 8:12v18Ecclesiastes 8:12 acknowledges that it will be well with those who fear God, which aligns with Psalm 37:18, where the Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever.
  14. Isaiah 58:8v6Isaiah 58:8 promises that righteousness will go before those who practice true fasting, and their healing will quickly appear. Psalm 37:6 similarly assures that God will make the righteousness of the faithful shine like the dawn.
  15. Malachi 4:3v20Malachi 4:3 describes the wicked being trampled underfoot, similar to Psalm 37:20 where the wicked will perish and vanish like smoke.
  16. Matthew 5:5v11Matthew 5:5 promises that the meek will inherit the earth, echoing Psalm 37:11, which also speaks of the meek inheriting the land, emphasizing the blessing of humility and gentleness.

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