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Psalm 37

Exhortation to Patience and Trust

Of David.

Do not fret because of the wicked;

do not be envious of wrongdoers,

for they will soon fade like the grass,

and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the L ord, and do good;

so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.

Take delight in the L ord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the L ord;

trust in him, and he will act.

He will make your vindication shine like the light,

and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the L ord, and wait patiently for him;

do not fret over those who prosper in their way,

over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.

Do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For the wicked shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the L ord shall inherit the land.

Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.

But the meek shall inherit the land,

and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

The wicked plot against the righteous,

and gnash their teeth at them;

but the L ord laughs at the wicked,

for he sees that their day is coming.

The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows

to bring down the poor and needy,

to kill those who walk uprightly;

their sword shall enter their own heart,

and their bows shall be broken.

Better is a little that the righteous person has

than the abundance of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,

but the L ord upholds the righteous.

The L ord knows the days of the blameless,

and their heritage will abide forever;

they are not put to shame in evil times,

in the days of famine they have abundance.

But the wicked perish,

and the enemies of the L ord are like the glory of the pastures;

they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

The wicked borrow, and do not pay back,

but the righteous are generous and keep giving;

for those blessed by the L ord shall inherit the land,

but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

Our steps are made firm by the L ord,

when he delights in our way;

though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong,

for the L ord holds us by the hand.

I have been young, and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

They are ever giving liberally and lending,

and their children become a blessing.

Depart from evil, and do good;

so you shall abide forever.

For the L ord loves justice;

he will not forsake his faithful ones.

The righteous shall be kept safe forever,

but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land,

and live in it forever.

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,

and their tongues speak justice.

The law of their God is in their hearts;

their steps do not slip.

The wicked watch for the righteous,

and seek to kill them.

The L ord will not abandon them to their power,

or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.

Wait for the L ord, and keep to his way,

and he will exalt you to inherit the land;

you will look on the destruction of the wicked.

I have seen the wicked oppressing,

and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.

Again I passed by, and they were no more;

though I sought them, they could not be found.

Mark the blameless, and behold the upright,

for there is posterity for the peaceable.

But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;

the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.

The salvation of the righteous is from the L ord;

he is their refuge in the time of trouble.

The L ord helps them and rescues them;

he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them,

because they take refuge in him.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

18 Jehovah knoweth the days of the upright ³⁴³⁴ “‘Depositeth the days of the upright,” — lays them up in safety for them: for such is the original idea of ירע.” — Fry It is not without good reason that David so frequently inculcates this doctrine, that the righteous are blessed because God provides for their necessities. We see how prone the minds of men are to distrust, and how much they are vexed by an excess of cares and anxieties from which they are unable to extricate themselves, while, on the other hand, they fall into another error in being more anxious regarding the future than there is any reason for; and yet, however active and industrious in the formation of their plans, they are often disappointed in their expectations, and not unfrequently fail altogether of success. Nothing, therefore, is more profitable for us than to have our eyes continually set upon the providence of God, which alone can best provide for us every thing we need. On this account, David now says, that God knoweth the days of the righteous; that is to say, he is not ignorant of the dangers to which they are exposed, and the help which they need. This doctrine we ought to improve as a source of consolation under every vicissitude which may seem to threaten us with destruction. We may be harassed in various ways, and distracted by many dangers, which every moment threaten us with death, but this consideration ought to prove to us a sufficient ground of comfort, that not only are our days numbered by God, but that he also knows all the vicissitudes of our lot on earth. Since God then so carefully watches over us for the maintenance of our welfare, we ought to enjoy, in this our pilgrimage on earth, as much peace and satisfaction as if we were put in full possession of our paternal inheritance and home. Because we are regarded by God, David from this concludes, that our inheritance is everlasting. Moreover, in declaring that those who are upright are thus carefully protected by God, he exhorts us to the sincere pursuit of truth and uprightness; and if we desire to be placed in safety under the protection of God, let us cultivate meekness, and reject with detestation this hellish proverb, “We must howl among wolves.”

³⁴ “‘Depositeth the days of the upright,” — lays them up in safety for them: for such is the original idea of ירע.” — Fry