Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 37

Introduction

1  David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the different estate of the godly and the wicked.
Verse 1

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
(Title
&) This is the third alphabetical Psalm. It seems to have been intended as an instructive and consoling ode for the captives in Babylon, who might feel themselves severely tempted when they saw those idolaters in prosperity, and themselves in adversity.
Fret
7, 1 Samuel 1:6-8, Proverbs 19:3, 24:1,19
neither
73:3, Proverbs 3:31, 23:17, Galatians 5:21, James 4:5,6
Verse 2

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
35,36, 73:17-20, 90:5,6, 92:7, 129:5-7, Job 20:5-9, James 1:10,11, 1 Peter 1:24
Verse 3

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Trust
4:5, 26:1, Isaiah 1:16-19, 50:10, Jeremiah 17:7,8, 1 Corinthians 15:57,58, Hebrews 6:10-12
so shalt
Genesis 26:2, 1 Samuel 26:19, Hebrews 11:13-16
verily
Heb. in truth, or stableness. be fed.
33:19, 34:9,10, Matthew 6:31-33, Luke 22:35
Verse 4

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Delight
43:4, 104:34, Job 27:10, 34:9, Song of Solomon 2:3, Isaiah 58:14, 1 Peter 1:8
and
21:1,2, 145:19, John 15:7,16, 1 John 5:14,15
Verse 5

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Commit
Heb. Roll thy way upon.
22:8, 55:22, Proverbs 16:3; *marg:; Matthew 6:25, Luke 12:22,29,30, Philippians 4:6,7, 1 Peter 5:7
and
Job 22:28, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Lamentations 3:37, James 4:15
Verse 6

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
he shall
31:20, Isaiah 54:17, Micah 7:8,9, 1 Corinthians 4:5
light
Job 11:17, Malachi 3:18, Matthew 13:43
Verse 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.
Rest in
Heb. Be silent to.
62:1, Joshua 10:12, Jonah 1:11; *margins
wait
27:14, 40:1, Proverbs 20:22, Isaiah 8:17, 30:15, Lamentations 3:25,26, Habakkuk 2:3, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 10:36,37, James 5:7-11
fret
50:8, 73:3-14, Jeremiah 12:1
the man
Job 21:7-34, Ecclesiastes 5:8, Isaiah 10:13,14, Daniel 11:36, Revelation 13:3-10
Verse 8

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Cease
Job 5:2, 18:4, Proverbs 14:29, 16:32, Ephesians 4:26,31, James 1:19,20, 3:14-18
fret
31:22, 73:15, 116:11, 1 Samuel 25:21-23, Jeremiah 20:14,15, Jonah 4:1,9, Luke 9:54,55
Verse 9

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
evil-doers
35,36, 55:23, Job 20:23-29, 27:13,14-23
inherit
11,12,29, 25:13, Isaiah 58:14, 60:21, Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 5:10
the earth
Or, "the land," airetz, probably the land of Judea, given by God himself as an inheritance to their fathers, and their posterity forever: and this verse seems to contain a promise of their return thither.
Verse 10

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
yet
73:18-20, Job 24:24, Hebrews 10:36,37, 1 Peter 4:7, Revelation 6:10,11
wicked
35,36, 49:10, 103:16, Job 7:10,21, 14:10, 20:8,9, Luke 12:20,21, Luke 16:27,28
thou
52:5, 58:10,11, 107:42,43, 1 Samuel 25:38,39, 2 Kings 9:25,34-37, Esther 7:10, 8:1, Isaiah 14:16-19
Verse 11

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
the meek
Matthew 5:5, Galatians 5:22,23, 1 Timothy 6:11, James 1:21, 3:13
delight
36:8, 72:7, 119:165, Isaiah 26:3, 48:18, 57:18-21, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7
Verse 12

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
32, 1 Samuel 18:21, 23:7-9, 2 Samuel 15:10-12, Esther 3:6, Matthew 26:4,16
plotteth
or, practiseth.
Daniel 8:12,24, Micah 2:1
gnasheth
35:16
Verse 13

The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
laugh
2:4, Proverbs 1:26
his day
1 Samuel 26:10, Jeremiah 50:27, Ezekiel 21:25,29, Daniel 5:26
Verse 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.
wicked
64:2-6, Acts 12:2,3,11,23
slay
1 Samuel 24:11,17, Proverbs 29:10,27, Habakkuk 1:13, Matthew 23:30-34, Acts 7:52, 1 John 3:12
such as, etc
Heb. the upright of way.
Verse 15

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
sword
7:14,15, 35:8, 1 Samuel 31:4, 2 Samuel 17:23, Esther 7:9,10, Isaiah 37:38, Micah 5:6, Matthew 27:4,5
bows
46:9, 76:3-6, Jeremiah 51:56, Hosea 1:5, 2:18
Verse 16

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Proverbs 3:33, 13:25, 15:16,17, 16:8, 30:9, Ecclesiastes 2:26, 4:6, Matthew 6:11, 1 Timothy 6:6
Verse 17

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
arms
10:15, Job 38:15, Ezekiel 30:21-25
Lord
24, 41:12, 51:12, 63:8, 119:116,117, 145:14, Isaiah 41:10, 42:1, Jude 1:24
Verse 18

The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
knoweth
1:6, 31:7, Matthew 6:32, 2 Timothy 2:19
the days
13, 31:15, 49:5, Deuteronomy 33:25, Matthew 24:21-24, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 4:2-4, Revelation 11:3-5
their
16:11, 21:4, 73:24, 103:17, Isaiah 60:21, Romans 5:21, 6:23, 1 Peter 1:4,5, 1 John 2:25
Verse 19

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
in the evil
Ecclesiastes 9:12, Amos 5:13, Micah 2:3, Ephesians 5:16
days
33:19, Job 5:20-22, Proverbs 10:3, Isaiah 33:16
Verse 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.
But the
68:2, 92:9, Judges 5:31, Luke 13:3,5, 2 Peter 2:12
as the fat of lambs
Heb. preciousness. That is, as the fat was wholly consumed in sacrifices, by the fire on the altar, so the wicked shall consume away in the fire of God's anger.
Deuteronomy 33:14-16
smoke
102:3, Genesis 19:28, Leviticus 3:3-11,16, Deuteronomy 29:20, Hebrews 12:29
Verse 21

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
borroweth
Deuteronomy 28:12,43,44, 2 Kings 4:1-5, Nehemiah 5:1-5, Proverbs 22:7
righteous
112:5,9, Deuteronomy 15:9-11, Job 31:16-20, Isaiah 32:8, 58:7-10, Luke 6:30, Acts 11:29, 20:35, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 9:6-15, Hebrews 6:10, 13:16
Verse 22

For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
Blessed
11,18, 32:1, 115:15, 128:1, Proverbs 3:33
cursed
119:21, Matthew 25:41, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 3:10,13
cut off
9,28, Zechariah 5:3,4
Verse 23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
steps
17:5, 85:13, 119:133, 121:3,8, 1 Samuel 2:9, Job 23:11,12, Proverbs 16:9, Jeremiah 10:23
ordered
or, established.
40:2, Proverbs 4:26
delighteth
147:10, Proverbs 11:1,20, Jeremiah 9:24, Hebrews 13:16
Verse 24

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Though
34:19,20, 40:2, 91:12, 94:18, 145:14, Proverbs 24:16, Micah 7:7,8, Luke 2:34, Luke 22:31,32,60-62
for
17, 145:14, John 10:27-30
Verse 25

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
I have
71:9,18, Job 32:6,7, Acts 21:16, Philemon 1:8,9
yet
28, 94:14, Joshua 1:5, 1 Samuel 12:22, Isaiah 13:16, 2 Corinthians 4:9, Hebrews 12:5,6, Hebrews 13:5
nor his seed
25:13, 59:15, 109:10, 112:2, Genesis 17:7, Job 15:23, Proverbs 13:22, Luke 1:53-55
Verse 26

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
ever
Heb. all the day. merciful.
21, 112:5,9, Deuteronomy 15:8-10, Matthew 5:7, Luke 6:35-38
his seed
Proverbs 20:7, Jeremiah 32:39
Verse 27

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Depart
34:14, Job 28:28, Proverbs 16:6,17, Isaiah 1:16,17, 2 Timothy 2:19, Titus 2:11-14
do good
1 Thessalonians 5:15, Titus 3:8,14, Hebrews 13:16,21, 1 John 2:16,17
Verse 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.
loveth
11:7, 45:6,7, 99:4, Isaiah 30:18, 61:8, Jeremiah 9:24
forsaketh
25,40, 92:13-15, Isaiah 59:21, Jeremiah 32:40,41, John 5:24, 6:39,40, John 10:28-30, 15:9, 1 John 2:19, 1 Peter 1:5, Jude 1:1
but
21:10, Exodus 20:5, Job 18:19, 27:14, Proverbs 2:22, Isaiah 14:20,21
Verse 29

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
9,11,18,27, Deuteronomy 30:20, Proverbs 2:21, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:3,4,7
Verse 30

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
71:15,24, Deuteronomy 6:7-9, Proverbs 10:21,31, 15:7, 25:11-13, 27:9, Matthew 12:35, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6
Verse 31

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
law
1:2, 40:3,8, 119:11,98, Deuteronomy 6:6, 11:18-20, Proverbs 4:4, Isaiah 51:7, Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10
none
23, 121:3
steps
or, goings.
17:5, 40:2, 44:18; *marg:; 73:2, Job 23:11, Proverbs 14:15, Ezekiel 27:6; *marg:
Verse 32

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
watcheth
12, 10:8-10, Jeremiah 20:10, Luke 6:7, 11:54, 14:1, 19:47,48, 20:20, Acts 9:24
Verse 33

The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
will not
31:7,8, 124:6,7, 1 Samuel 23:26-28, 2 Timothy 4:17, 2 Peter 2:9
condemn
109:31, Romans 8:1,33,34
Verse 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.
Wait
Kawah, to wait, implies the extension of a right line from one point to another. The first point is the human heart; the line is its intense desire; and the last point is God, to whom the heart extends this straight line of earnest desire. He who, while he waits on God, keeps his way, is sure to have the further blessings of which he is in pursuit.
3,7,9, 27:14, Proverbs 20:22
keep
Job 17:9, 23:10-12, Proverbs 4:25-27, 16:17, Matthew 24:13
exalt
92:10, 112:9, Luke 14:11, 1 Peter 1:7, 5:6
when
52:5,6, 91:8, 92:11
Verse 35

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
I have
73:3-11, Esther 5:11, Job 5:3, 21:7-17, Isaiah 14:14-19
a green bay-tree
or, a green tree that groweth in his own soil.
Job 8:13-19, Ezekiel 31:6-10,18, Daniel 4:20-33
Verse 36

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
10, Exodus 15:9,10,19, Job 20:5-29, Isaiah 10:16-19,33,34, Acts 12:22,23
Verse 37

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Job 1:1, 42:12-17, Proverbs 14:32, Isaiah 32:17, 57:2, Luke 2:25-29, Acts 7:59,60, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Peter 1:14
Verse 38

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
1:4-6, 9:17, 52:5, Proverbs 14:32, Matthew 13:30,49,50, 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9
Verse 39

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
salvation
3:8, Isaiah 12:2, Jonah 2:9, Ephesians 2:8
strength
9:9, 46:1, 91:15, Isaiah 33:2, Colossians 1:11, 2 Timothy 4:17
Verse 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.
the Lord
Isaiah 31:5, 46:4, Daniel 3:17,28, 6:23
from
17:13, 27:2, 1 John 2:13,14, 5:18
because
22:4,5, 1 Chronicles 5:20

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