What does Psalm 37:12 mean?

David's enemies hated him. They plotted to kill him (1 Samuel 23:24–25; 2 Samuel 17:1–4). Rather than self-pity or bitterness, David saw his experience as common to God's people. The wicked despise the righteous and would like to get rid of them (Psalm 31:13; 1 Peter 4:4). This verse is part of ongoing comfort for those faithful to God. Verses 12 and 13, like verses 14 and 15, form contrasting pairs where the actions of the wicked are turned against them.

Even Jesus was subject to this vile treatment. His foes, the chief priests and elders, wanted to get rid of Him. Matthew 26:3–4 reports that "the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him." Jesus was aware of this hatred, and warned His followers that they, too, would be hated. He said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you…because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18–19). He also told His followers, "You will be hated by all for my name's sake" (Matthew 10:22).