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Psalms · Catholic Public Domain Version

Psalm 36 (37) Catholic Public Domain Version

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  • Catholic
  • OT: Latin Vulgate
  • NT: Latin Vulgate
  • Catholic (73 books)
  • Formal (word for word)
  • 2009
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Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · Psalm 37 · About the recordings

Notes on this text (4)

1 A Psalm of David himself. Do not choose to imitate the malicious; neither should you envy those who work iniquity. 2 For they will quickly wither away like dry grass, and in like manner to kitchen herbs, they will soon droop. 3 Hope in the Lord and do good, and dwell in the land, and so you shall be pastured with its riches. 4 Delight in the Lord, and he will grant to you the petitions of your heart. 5 Reveal your way to the Lord, and hope in him, and he will accomplish it. 6 And he will bring forth your justice like the light, and your judgment like the midday. 7 Be subject to the Lord and pray to him. Do not choose to compete with him who prospers in his way, with the man who does injustice. 8 Cease from wrath and leave behind rage. Do not choose to imitate the malicious. 9 For those who are malicious will be exterminated. But those who remain with the Lord, these will inherit the land. 10 Yet still a little while, and the sinner will not be. And you will search his place and find nothing. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, and they will delight in the multitude of peace. 12 The sinner will observe the just, and he will gnash his teeth over him. 13 But the Lord will laugh at him: for he knows in advance that his day will come. 14 The sinners have drawn the sword, they have bent their bow, so as to cast down the poor and the needy, so as to massacre the upright of heart. 15 Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow be broken. 16 A little is better to the just than the many riches of sinners. 17 For the arms of sinners will be crushed, but the Lord confirms the just. 18 The Lord knows the days of the immaculate, and their inheritance will be in eternity. 19 They will not be confounded in an evil time; and in days of famine, they will be satisfied: 20 for sinners will perish. Truly, the adversaries of the Lord, soon after they have been honored and exalted, will fade away, in the same way that smoke fades away. 21 The sinner will lend and not release, but the just one shows compassion and donates. 22 For those who bless him will inherit the earth, but those who curse him will perish. 23 The steps of a man will be directed by the Lord, and he will choose his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be harmed, because the Lord places his hand under him. 25 I have been young, and now I am old; and I have not seen the just forsaken, nor his offspring seeking bread. 26 He shows compassion and lends, all day long, and his offspring will be in blessing. 27 Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell forever and ever. 28 For the Lord loves judgment, and he will not abandon his saints. They will be kept safe in eternity. The unjust will be punished, and the offspring of the impious will perish. 29 But the just will inherit the earth, and they will dwell upon it forever and ever. 30 The mouth of the just one will express wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted. 32 The sinner considers the just one and seeks to put him to death. 33 But the Lord will not abandon him into his hands, nor condemn him, when he will be judged. 34 Wait for the Lord, and keep to his way. And he will exalt you, so as to inherit the land that you may seize. When the sinners will have passed away, then you shall see. 35 I have seen the impious over-exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon. 36 And I passed by, and behold, he was not. And I sought him, and his place was not found. 37 Keep to innocence, and gaze upon fairness: because there are allotments for the peaceful man. 38 But the unjust will be destroyed together: the allotments of the impious will pass away. 39 But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in time of tribulation. 40 And the Lord will help them and free them. And he will rescue them from sinners and save them, because they have hoped 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. References use English (Hebrew-based) verse numbers; links open the passage in CPDV.

  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). Verse numbers below follow the Hebrew/English numbering: 37.

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)