Psalm 37:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

NIV: I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

NASB: I have seen a wicked, violent person Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

CSB: I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.

NLT: I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

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

NKJV: I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.

David reports that he has seen a wicked, violent, strong man tower over others like an overspreading tree that seems to be firmly grounded and immoveable. This reference might be entirely poetic. However, David's personal history included encounters with men who fit this description. Those ungodly men exhibited their own forms of strength and power—wealth, physical prowess, or authority—but were eventually nowhere to be found (Psalm 37:36).

First Samuel 25 portrays Nabal, whose name means "foolish," as a powerful man who insulted David's in response to a polite request for provisions. Though Nabal was very rich and owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats (1 Samuel 25:2), he asked David's men, "Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?" (1 Samuel 25:11). Rather than seek revenge, David was convinced to wait (1 Samuel 25:21–35), and Nabal eventually met his deserved end (1 Samuel 25:36–39). Perhaps, David was thinking of Nabal when he wrote these words.

An even more likely example from David's life would be Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4). Though young, with God's enabling, David was able to kill the enormous, intimidating warrior (1 Samuel 17:45–51).

Or David may have had ruthless King Saul in mind. Saul's ungodly jealousy of David forced David to flee for his own safety (1 Samuel 23:14).

All three of these men might have seemed as immoveable and indestructible as a native tree with deep roots and wide-reaching branches. Even today, those who have wealth, strength, or authority can seem to be too big and firmly planted to be toppled. This aura of invincibility is just an illusion (Psalm 37:36).

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.