Psalm 37:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.

NIV: In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

NASB: They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty.

CSB: They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger.

NLT: They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

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

NKJV: They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

David notes that the righteous will not be "put to shame." In context, this means they will not be abandoned by God, or disappointed in His response to their struggles. Scripture is realistic about pain and suffering, even for those who obey the Lord (Psalm 34:19; John 16:33). However, an eternal perspective helps us remember that all sin will one day be punished (Revelation 20:11–15), and everything which happens is part of God's sovereign will (Romans 8:28–30). Believers may experience pain (Psalm 37:24), but don't need to despair.

In contrast, those who hate God, and God's people, will suffer eternal loss. David wrote in Psalm 6:10: "All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment." Even in a time of famine the righteous will have enough to eat, David assures his readers in Psalm 37:19. When Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth, she had practically nothing, but the Lord used a wealthy farmer and relative, Boaz, to provide abundantly for them (Ruth 2). Jesus promised that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, everything we need will be supplied (Matthew 6:33).

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.