Psalm 37:7

ESV Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
NIV Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
NASB Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.
CSB Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.
NLT Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
KJV 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.
NKJV Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

What does Psalm 37:7 mean?

In this verse, David again uses the term from verse 1, translated as "fret" (Psalm 37:1). In Hebrew, this term literally means something being ignited or heated. In English, a common expression for being angered is to "get hot under the collar," or to be "steaming mad." Echoing the beginning of the psalm, David tells his audience not to be agitated over the earthly prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 37:10).

The believer's duty is to wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40:1; 130:5). Waiting on the Lord suggests a calm surrender to His will. In Psalm 62:5 David wrote: "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him." Often, faithful followers of God are frustrated as they suffer while the ungodly seem to flourish (Jeremiah 12:1; Psalm 73:3). It can be hard to remember that those who defy God will suffer ultimate loss (2 Peter 2:2–3; Jude 1:14–15).

In those times, as in all other times, we need to take time to be silent before God and trust Him to speak to our heart (Psalm 46:10). When we are quiet before Him, He often brings to mind Scripture which is just what we need to calm our mind and comfort our heart (2 Peter 3:2–7; John 14:26). Patience, like silence, requires discipline, but when we are patient, we begin to see that God is at work in our life.
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