Psalm 37:7 - Printer Friendly

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.

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.

Psalm 37:1–11 encourages David's audience to maintain a proper relationship with God by refusing to wallow in anxiety over their circumstances. Instead, they ought to trust in the Lord, find their joy in the Lord, and commit their future to the Lord. The tone of this passage resembles Proverbs chapter two, which explains the benefits of following godly wisdom. Matthew 5:5 holds a promise that parallels verses 9 and 11 of this psalm.

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.