1.
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psalms 37 is an Acrostic Psalm (see App-63 ), having four lines (a quatrain) assigned to each successive letter of the alphabet, except the fourth (Psalms 37:7 ), the eleventh (Psalms 37:20 ), the nineteenth (Psalms 37:34 ), which each have three lines (a triplet) assigned to them. These three triplet verses occur in perfect order. The seventh verse is the seventh letter from the beginning; the thirty-fourth verse is the seventh letter from the end; while the middle verse (Psalms 37:20 ) marks the end of the first half with the first of the two middle letters.
Title, of David = by David, and relating to the true David. The Psalm is Messiah's admonition as to present blessing, arising from the fact that Jehovah is His Shepherd.
Fret not = Heat not thyself with vexation.
evildoers. Compare Psalms 36:11 , Psalms 36:12 . Hebrew ra'a'. App-44 . Hebrew 'aval . App-44
2.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Trust = Confide in. Hebrew. batah. App-4
4.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Commit = Roll upon, or Repose on. Compare Psalms 55:22 . Hebrew. galal. App-69
6.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
judgment = vindication. Some codices, with six early printed editions and Syriac, read plural, "vindications" = plural of majesty = thy complete vindication.
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. Hebrew be silent for: i.e. wait for, or stand still. Compare Psalms 62:5 .Exodus 14:13 .
man. Hebrew 'ish. App-14
wicked. Hebrew 'dshah. App-44 .
8.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
be cut off: i.e. die. Used of Messiah (Daniel 9:26 ), whose resurrection was sure. (Psalms 16 , &c).
the earth = the land, as in Psalms 37:3 , Psalms 37:29 , Psalms 37:34 .
10.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
wicked = lawless (plural) Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
11.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
But the meek = patient oppressed ones. Quoted in Matthew 5:5 .
12.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13.
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
The LORD*. Hebrew. Jehovah. Altered by the Sopherim to Adonai. App-32 .
laugh. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
day = judgment. "Day" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the judgment then to be executed.
is coming. So some codices, with Aram, and Syriac Hebrew text = will come.
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.
the poor and needy = a poor and needy one.
of upright conversation = upright in the (or their) way: i.e. in life. Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read "upright in heart".
15.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16.
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
the righteous. (Plural.)
18.
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
knoweth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for regarding with affection or favour. Compare Psalms 1:6 ; Psalms 31:7 .
19.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
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.
into. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "like".
21.
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
sheweth mercy = is gracious.
22.
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
of. Genitive of Cause = by: i.e. His blessed ones.
23.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
good man. Hebrew. geber . App-14 . IV
ordered = prepared, or made firm.
24.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
25.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
ever = all the day, or all day long.
merciful = gracious.
27.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
dwell. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Mood), App-6 , imperative mood for indicative mood = thou shalt dwell.
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.
saints = favoured, or gracious ones.
They, &c. The letter Ayin is hidden behind the Preposition Lamed , in the first word "for ever" (Hebrew. le'olam ,). Dr. John Lightfoot says it is cut off like the "seed" of the "wicked" in same clause, both these words ending with Ayin . He sees in this the seed of Joram being cut off (i.e. Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah. Matthew 1:8 ). Compare with 1Ch 3:11 , 1 Chronicles 3:12 .
29.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
the land. See note on "the earth", Psalms 37:9 .
30.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
the righteous = a righteous one.
judgment = justice.
31.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
32.
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33.
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
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.
35.
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
the wicked = a lawless man.
in great power = ruthless.
a green bay tree = a green tree in its native soil. Septuagint and Syriac read "cedars in Lebanon". Compare Hosea 14:6 .
36.
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
he. Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulg, read "I".
37.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
the end = the hereafter, or future.
peace: or wellbeing.
38.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
transgressors. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 .
39.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
But. Some codices, with Syriac and Vulgate, omit "But", thus making the Tau the first letter instead of the second.
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.
deliver = have made them escape. trust in = fled for refuge to. Hebrew. hasah. App-69 .