Psalm 37:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

NIV: but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

NASB: The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.

CSB: The Lord laughs at him because he sees that his day is coming.

NLT: But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

KJV: The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

NKJV: The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.

This is the second half of a contrast presented by David (Psalm 37:12). Those who hate godliness make plans against godly people, whom they also hate. According to this verse, God's response is to laugh, since He knows these evil schemes are doomed to fail.

Psalm 2 describes the wicked peoples' rebellion against God and His anointed. The wicked will try to rid themselves of divine rule, but "he who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision" (Psalm 2:4). He will break the rebellious nations with a rod of iron and smash them into pieces like a piece of pottery (Psalm 2:9). Revelation 19 describes a future gathering of the wicked to oppose the Lord, but He will strike them down with a sharp sword that proceeds from His mouth, and He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty (Revelation 19:15).

This verse supports the advice given elsewhere in this psalm: that the righteous need not feel downcast or envious because of the wicked (Psalm 37:1–2, 8–9). In the end, the righteous will be rewarded but the wicked will be punished (Revelation 20:11–15).

Psalm 37:12–20 continues David's discussion of the differences between the wicked and the righteous. Although the wicked seem to prosper and violently oppose the righteous, the righteous can trust the Lord to care for them. For those who honor God, whatever little they have is better than the abundance of wicked people. Believers have the Lord and will inherit good, eternal things. The wicked have nothing to look forward to in eternity other than condemnation.

In this psalm, David contrasts the way God protects and saves His people, contrasted with the ruin which awaits the wicked. Much of this seems to be based on David's own experiences (Psalm 37:25, 35). As with many other passages in Psalms and Proverbs, this passage encourages godly wisdom. Those who reject God and His ways can expect uncertainty on earth and disaster in eternity.

Psalm 37 lies in the first division of Psalms and addresses mankind. Its tone resembles that of the book of Proverbs. The psalm dispenses wisdom about the security of the righteous man and the insecurity and fate of the wicked man. Psalms 36 and 39 also describe the insecurity and fate of the wicked. The covenant God made with Israel in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27—30 is the basis for David's assurance that the righteous are secure. The issue of the prosperity of the wicked is also featured in Psalms 49 and 73. David most likely wrote Psalm 37 in his old age.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.