David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the different estate of the godly and the wicked

(Title.) This is the third alphabetical Psalm. It seems to have been intended as an instructive and consoling ode for the captives in Babylon, who might feel themselves severely tempted when they saw those idolaters in prosperity, and themselves in adversity.

Fret Ps 37:1 1Sa 1:6-8 Pr 19:3 24:1,19

neither Ps 73:3 Pr 3:31 23:17 Ga 5:21 Jas 4:5,6

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Ps 37:35,36 73:17-20 90:5,6 92:7 129:5-7 Job 20:5-9 Jas 1:10,11 1Pe 1:24

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Trust Ps 4:5 26:1 Isa 1:16-19 50:10 Jer 17:7,8 1Co 15:57,58 Heb 6:10-12

so shalt Ge 26:2 1Sa 26:19 Heb 11:13-16

verily [heb.] in truth, or stableness
be fed Ps 33:19 34:9,10 Mt 6:31-33 Lu 22:35

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Delight Ps 43:4 104:34 Job 27:10 34:9 So 2:3 Isa 58:14 1Pe 1:8

and Ps 21:1,2 145:19 Joh 15:7,16 1Jo 5:14,15

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Commit [heb.] Roll thy way upon Ps 22:8 55:22 Pr 16:3 Mt 6:25 Lu 12:22,29,30 Php 4:6,7 1Pe 5:7

and Job 22:28 Ec 9:1 La 3:37

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

he shall Ps 31:20 Isa 54:17 Mic 7:8,9 1Co 4:5

light Job 11:17 Mal 3:18 Mt 13:43

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 in [heb.] be silent to Ps 62:1 Jos 10:12 Jon 1:11

wait Ps 27:14 40:1 Pr 20:22 Isa 8:17 30:15 La 3:25,26 Hab 2:3 Ga 6:9 Heb 10:36,37 Jas 5:7-11

fret Ps 50:8 73:3-14 Jer 12:1

the man Job 21:7 Ec 5:8 Isa 10:13,14 Da 11:36 Re 13:3-10

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Cease Job 5:2 18:4 Pr 14:29 16:32 Eph 4:26,31 Jas 1:19,20 3:14-18

fret Ps 31:22 73:15 116:11 1Sa 25:21-23 Jer 20:14,15 Jon 4:1,9 Lu 9:54,55

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

evil doers Ps 37:35,36 55:23 Job 20:23-29 27:13,14

inherit Ps 37:11,12,29 25:13 Isa 58:14 60:21 Heb 11:16 Re 5:10

the earth. or, `the land,' airetz, probably the land of Judea, given by God himself as an inheritance to their fathers, and their posterity forever: and this verse seems to contain a promise of their return thither

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

yet Ps 73:18-20 Job 24:24 Heb 10:36,37 1Pe 4:7 Re 6:10,11

wicked Ps 37:35,36 49:10 103:16 Job 7:10,21 14:10 20:8,9 Lu 12:20,21 Lu 16:27,28

thou Ps 52:5:5-7 58:10,11 107:42,43 1Sa 25:38,39 2Ki 9:25,34-37 Es 7:10 8:1 Isa 14:16-19

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

the meek Mt 5:5 Ga 5:22,23 1Ti 6:11 Jas 1:21 3:13

delight Ps 36:8 72:7 119:165 Isa 26:3 48:18 57:18-21 Joh 14:27 Php 4:7

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

Ps 37:32 1Sa 18:21 23:7-9 2Sa 15:10-12 Es 3:6 Mt 26:4,16

plotteth. or, practiseth Da 8:12,24 Mic 2:1

gnasheth Ps 35:16

13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

laugh Ps 2:4 Pr 1:26

his day 1Sa 26:10 Jer 50:27 Eze 21:25,29 Da 5:26

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.

wicked Ps 64:2-6 Ac 12:2,3,11,23

slay 1Sa 24:11,17 Pr 29:10,27 Hab 1:13 Mt 23:30-34 Ac 7:52 1Jo 3:12

such as [heb.] the upright of way

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

sword Ps 7:14,15 35:8 1Sa 31:4 2Sa 17:23 Es 7:9,10 Isa 37:38 Mic 5:6 Mt 27:4,5

bows Ps 46:9 76:3-6 Ho 1:5 2:18

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Pr 3:33 13:25 15:16,17 16:8 30:9 Ec 2:26 4:6 Mt 6:11 1Ti 6:6

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

arms Ps 10:15 Job 38:15 Eze 30:21-25

Lord Ps 37:24 41:12 51:12 63:8 119:116,117 145:14 Isa 41:10 42:1 Jude 1:24

18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

knoweth Ps 1:6 31:7 Mt 6:32 2Ti 2:19

the days Ps 37:13 31:15 49:5 De 33:25 Mt 24:21-24 2Ti 3:1-5 4:2-4 Re 11:3-5

their Ps 16:11 21:4 73:24 103:17 Isa 60:21 Ro 5:21 6:23 1Pe 1:4,5 1Jo 2:25

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

in the evil Ec 9:12 Am 5:13 Mic 2:3 Eph 5:16

days Ps 33:19 Job 5:20-22 Pr 10:3 Isa 33:16

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.

But the Ps 68:2 92:9 Jud 5:31 Lu 13:3,5 2Pe 2:12

as the fat of lambs [heb.] preciousness. That is, as the fat was wholly consumed in sacrifices, by the fire on the altar, so the wicked shall consume away in the fire of God's anger De 33:14-16

smoke Ps 102:3 Ge 19:28 Le 3:3-11,16 De 29:20 Heb 12:29

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

borroweth De 28:12,43,44 2Ki 4:1-5 Ne 5:1-5 Pr 22:7

righteous Ps 112:5,9 De 15:9-11 Job 31:16-20 Isa 32:8 58:7-10 Lu 6:30 Ac 11:29 20:35 2Co 8:9 9:6 Heb 6:10 13:16

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Blessed Ps 37:11,18 32:1 115:15 128:1 Pr 3:33

cursed Ps 119:21 Mt 25:41 1Co 16:22 Ga 3:10,13

cut off Ps 37:9,28 Zec 5:3,4

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

steps Ps 17:5 85:13 119:133 121:3,8 1Sa 2:9 Job 23:11,12 Pr 16:9 Jer 10:23

ordered. or, established Ps 40:2 Pr 4:26

delighteth Ps 147:10 Pr 11:1,20 Jer 9:24 Heb 13:16

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Though Ps 34:19,20 40:2 91:12 94:18 145:14 Pr 24:16 Mic 7:7,8 Lu 2:34 22:31,32,60-62

for Ps 37:17 145:14 Joh 10:27-30

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

I have Ps 71:9,18 Job 32:6,7 Ac 21:16 Phm 1:8,9

yet Ps 37:28 94:14 Jos 1:5 1Sa 12:22 Isa 13:16 2Co 4:9 Heb 12:5,6 13:5

nor his seed Ps 25:13 59:15 109:10 112:2 Ge 17:7 Job 15:23 Pr 13:22 Lu 1:53-55

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

ever [heb.] all the day
merciful Ps 37:21 112:5,9 De 15:8-10 Mt 5:7 Lu 6:35-38

his seed Pr 20:7 Jer 32:39

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Depart Ps 34:14 Job 28:28 Pr 16:6,17 Isa 1:16,17 2Ti 2:19 Tit 2:11-14

do good Ps 37:3 1Th 5:15 Tit 2:8,14 Heb 13:16,21 1Jo 2:16,17

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.

loveth Ps 11:7 45:6,7 99:4 Isa 30:18 61:8 Jer 9:24

forsaketh Ps 37:25,40 92:13-15 Isa 59:21 Jer 32:40,41 Joh 5:24 6:39,40 10:28-30 15:9 1Jo 2:19 1Pe 1:5 Jude 1:1

but Ps 21:10 Ex 20:5 Job 18:19 27:14 Pr 2:22 Isa 14:20,21

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Ps 37:9,11,18,27 De 30:20 Pr 2:21 2Pe 3:13 Re 21:3,4,7

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Ps 71:15,24 De 6:7-9 Pr 10:21,31 15:7 25:11-13 27:9 Mt 12:35 Eph 4:29 Col 4:6

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

law Ps 1:2 40:3,8 119:11,98 De 6:6 11:18-20 Pr 4:4 Isa 51:7 Jer 31:33 Heb 8:10

none Ps 37:23 121:3

steps. or, goings Ps 40:2

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

watcheth Ps 37:12 10:8-10 Jer 20:10 Lu 6:7 11:54 14:1 19:47,48 20:20 Ac 9:24

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

will not Ps 31:7,8 124:6,7 1Sa 23:26-28 2Ti 4:17 2Pe 2:9

condemn Ps 109:31 Ro 8:1,33,34

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.

Wait. Kawah, to wait, implies the extension of a right line from one point to another. The first point is the human heart; the line is its intense desire; and the last point is God, to whom the heart extends this straight line of earnest desire. He who, while he waits on God, keeps his way, is sure to have the further blessings of which he is in pursuit. Ps 37:3,7,9 27:14 Pr 20:22

keep Job 17:9 23:10-12 Pr 4:25-27 16:17 Mt 24:13

exalt Ps 92:10 112:9 Lu 14:11 1Pe 1:7 5:6

when Ps 52:5,6 91:8 92:11

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

I have Ps 73:3-11 Es 5:11 Job 5:3 21:7-17 Isa 14:14-19

a green bay-tree. or, a green tree that groweth in his own soil Job 8:13-19 Eze 31:6-10,18 Da 4:20

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Ps 37:10 Ex 15:9,10,19 Job 20:5 Isa 10:16-19,33,34 Ac 12:22,23

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Job 1:1 42:12-17 Pr 14:32 Isa 32:17 57:2 Lu 2:25-29 Ac 7:59,60 2Ti 4:6-8 2Pe 1:14

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

Ps 1:4-6 9:17 52:5 Pr 14:32 Mt 13:30,49,50 25:46 2Th 1:8,9

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

salvation Ps 3:8 Isa 12:2 Jon 2:9 Eph 2:8

strength Ps 9:9 46:1 91:15 Isa 33:2 Col 1:11 2Ti 4:17

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.

the Lord Isa 31:5 46:4 Da 3:17,28 6:23

from Ps 17:13 27:2 1Jo 2:13,14 5:18

because Ps 22:4,5 1Ch 5:20