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Psalms · Berean Standard Bible

Psalm 37 Berean Standard Bible

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  • Protestant
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Formal (word for word)
  • 2022
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

Notes on this text (1)
BSB Berean Standard Bible
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
1 By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
5 Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
6 He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.
6 he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
7 Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
8 Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
11 But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.
13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.
18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
19 In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.
20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.
22 Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.
22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
23 A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.
25 I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.
26 They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.
27 Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.
28 For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
31 The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.
32 Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
32 The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.
33 the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.
33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait 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.
34 Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
36 yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.
37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.
Cross references (40)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Psalm 37:7; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:19; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 24:1
  2. 2 Psalm 92:7; Psalm 90:5–6; James 1:10–11; Psalm 37:35–36; Job 14:2
  3. 3 Jeremiah 17:7–8; Matthew 6:31–33; Psalm 62:8; 1 Corinthians 15:57–58; Psalm 34:9–10
  4. 4 John 15:7; Psalm 145:19; John 15:16; Isaiah 58:14; 1 John 5:14–15
  5. 5 Proverbs 16:3; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6–7; Matthew 6:25; Psalm 55:22
  6. 6 Isaiah 54:17; Job 11:17; Isaiah 58:8; Micah 7:8–9; Matthew 13:43
  7. 7 James 5:7–11; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 62:5; Hebrews 10:36–37; Lamentations 3:25–26
  8. 8 Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 16:32; James 1:19–20; Ephesians 4:31; Ephesians 4:26
  9. 9 Isaiah 60:21; Psalm 25:13; Proverbs 2:21; Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 57:13
  10. 10 Job 24:24; 1 Peter 4:7; Psalm 37:35–36; Psalm 107:42–43; Psalm 103:16
  11. 11 Matthew 5:5; Galatians 5:22–23; Isaiah 26:3; James 3:13; Psalm 119:165
  12. 12 Psalm 35:16; Micah 2:1; Daniel 8:12; Psalm 31:13; Matthew 26:16
  13. 13 Psalm 2:4; Proverbs 1:26; Daniel 5:26; 1 Samuel 26:10; Ezekiel 21:25
  14. 14 Proverbs 29:27; Psalm 11:2; 1 John 3:12; Proverbs 29:10; Psalm 64:2–6
  15. 15 Psalm 7:14–15; Psalm 35:8; Hosea 2:18; 1 Samuel 31:4; Jeremiah 51:56
  16. 16 Proverbs 16:8; Proverbs 15:16–17; 1 Timothy 6:6; Proverbs 13:25; Proverbs 3:33
  17. 17 Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 63:8; Psalm 145:14; Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 37:24
  18. 18 Psalm 1:6; Psalm 103:17; Romans 6:23; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 11:3–5
  19. 19 Psalm 33:19; Proverbs 10:3; Job 5:20–22; Isaiah 33:16; Amos 5:13
  20. 20 Psalm 68:2; Psalm 102:3; Luke 13:3; Deuteronomy 33:14–16; Judges 5:31
  21. 21 Hebrews 13:16; Psalm 112:5; Proverbs 22:7; Psalm 112:9; Luke 6:30
  22. 22 Proverbs 3:33; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Psalm 37:9; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 37:11
  23. 23 Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 119:133; Proverbs 4:26; 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 40:2
  24. 24 Proverbs 24:16; Psalm 145:14; Psalm 94:18; Micah 7:7–8; John 10:27–30
  25. 25 Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 25:13; Psalm 112:2; 1 Samuel 12:22
  26. 26 Psalm 112:5; Psalm 37:21; Matthew 5:7; Jeremiah 32:39; Deuteronomy 15:8–10
  27. 27 Psalm 34:14; Proverbs 16:6; 1 John 2:16–17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Hebrews 13:16
  28. 28 Proverbs 2:22; Psalm 11:7; Psalm 21:10; Isaiah 59:21; 1 Peter 1:5
  29. 29 Proverbs 2:21; Psalm 37:9; 2 Peter 3:13; Psalm 37:11; Psalm 37:18
  30. 30 Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 25:11–13; Proverbs 15:7; Ephesians 4:29; Matthew 12:35
  31. 31 Psalm 40:8; Deuteronomy 6:6; Isaiah 51:7; Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 31:33
  32. 32 Jeremiah 20:10; Luke 14:1; Luke 20:20; Psalm 10:8–10; Luke 19:47–48
  33. 33 Psalm 109:31; 2 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:33–34; 2 Timothy 4:17
  34. 34 Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 20:22; Psalm 37:9; Matthew 24:13; Psalm 52:5–6
  35. 35 Job 5:3; Psalm 73:3–11; Job 21:7–17; Ezekiel 31:6–10; Isaiah 14:14–19
  36. 36 Psalm 37:10; Acts 12:22–23; Isaiah 10:16–19; Exodus 15:19; Isaiah 10:33–34
  37. 37 Isaiah 32:17; Isaiah 57:1–2; 2 Timothy 4:6–8; Acts 7:59–60; Job 42:12–17
  38. 38 Proverbs 14:32; Psalm 52:5; Matthew 13:49–50; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Psalm 1:4–6
  39. 39 Psalm 9:9; Psalm 91:15; Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 3:8; 2 Timothy 4:17
  40. 40 Isaiah 31:5; Daniel 3:17; 1 Chronicles 5:20; Isaiah 46:4; Daniel 3:28

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms (Psalm XXXVI)

    "The ungodly hath said in himself that he will sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes" (ver. 1). Not of one man, but of a race of ungodly men he speaketh, who fight against their own selves, by not understanding, that so they may live well; not because they cannot, but because they will not.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)

  2. Quotes verse 37:23 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book V, Chapters VII–VIII)

    It was Thou, O my God, who didst it, for the steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and He shall dispose his way. Or how can we procure salvation but from Thy hand, remaking what it hath made?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 37:11 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily XV)

    And besides, since in the Old Testament the prophet used to say continually, "The meek shall inherit the earth;" He thus weaves into His discourse the words to which they were accustomed, so as not everywhere to speak a strange language.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 37:4 Basil of Caesarea, Hexaemeron (Homily VIII)

    "Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart." Do you love riches?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)

  5. Quotes verse 37:11 Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (Sermon XXXI)

    … saith, "Great peace have they who love Thy law, and nothing is an offence to them." To this sentiment also agrees the passage which we have chanted in course; "But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Because, "great peace have they who love Thy law." For these "meek" ones are they …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)