Psalms 37

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Psalm 37 contrasts the ultimate fate of evildoers with that of the righteous who trust in the Lord. It describes how the wicked scheme against the upright, draw swords, and borrow without repaying, yet ultimately fade away like grass, smoke, or the glory of the fields. In contrast, the righteous practice generosity, speak wisdom, and are upheld and rescued by the Lord in times of trouble. The text states that those blessed by God will inherit the land and dwell in it forever, while transgressors and their offspring will be completely cut off and destroyed.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. ²For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. ³Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. ⁴Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. ⁶He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. ⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. ⁸Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. ⁹For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity. ¹²The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, ¹³but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. ¹⁴The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. ¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. ¹⁶Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. ¹⁷For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. ¹⁸The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever. ¹⁹In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied. ²⁰But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away. ²¹The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. ²²Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed. ²³The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. ²⁴Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. ²⁵I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. ²⁶They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing. ²⁷Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever. ²⁸For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. ²⁹The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. ³⁰The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. ³¹The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. ³²Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, ³³the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment. ³⁴Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. ³⁵I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, ³⁶yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. ³⁷Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace. ³⁸But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. ³⁹The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. ⁴⁰The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.