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Psalms 37:1
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The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked

A Psalm of David.

1 Doa not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 
2 For they shall soon be cut down alike the grass,
And wither as the green herb. 
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 aDelight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your bheart. 
5 aCommit1 your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass. 
6 aHe shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. 
7 Rest in the Lord, aand wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who bprospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 
8 aCease from anger, and forsake wrath;
bDo not fret—it only causes harm. 
9 For evildoers shall be1 cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall ainherit the earth. 
10 For ayet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, byou will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more. 
11 aBut the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 
12 The wicked plots against the just,
aAnd gnashes at him with his teeth. 
13 aThe Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that bhis day is coming. 
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Psalms 36:12   Psalms 37:2 >>


Psalms 37:1

Fret not thyself - The Hebrew word here means properly to burn, to be kindled, to be inflamed, and is often applied to anger, as if under its influence we become "heated:" Genesis 31:36; Genesis 34:7; I Samuel 15:11; II Samuel 19:43. Hence, it means to fret oneself, to be angry, or indignant. Compare Proverbs 24:19. We should perhaps express the same idea by the word "worrying" or "chafing." The state of mind is that where we are worried, or envious, because others are prosperous and successful, and we are not. The idea is, therefore, closely allied with that in the other part of the verse, "neither be thou "envious." "

Because of evil-doers - Wicked men:

(a) at the fact that there are wicked men, or that God suffers them to live;

(b) at their numbers;

(c) at their success and prosperity.

Neither be thou envious - Envy is pain, mortification, discontent, at the superior excellence or prosperity of others, accompanied often with some degree of malignant feeling, and with a disposition to detract from their merit. It is the result of a comparison of ourselves with others who are more highly gifted or favored, or who are more successful than we are ourselves. The feeling referred to here is that which springs up in the mind when we see persons of corrupt or wicked character prospered, while we, endeavoring to do right, are left to poverty, to disappointment, and to tears.


 
<< Psalms 36:12   Psalms 37:2 >>

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