Psalm 37:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!

NIV: Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;

NASB: Do not get upset because of evildoers, Do not be envious of wrongdoers.

CSB: Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.

NLT: Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.

KJV: {A Psalm of David.} Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

NKJV: {A Psalm of David.} Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

David learned through personal experience that worshipful respect for God pushes out fear of those who do evil. His advice to other believers is to put aside worrying about evildoers. He also advises believers not to envy those who do wrong.

The word translated "fret" in this verse is from the Hebrew root word charah, meaning "to get heated up or to burn." Had he been using English expressions, David might have counseled the righteous not to "get steamed," or "hot under the collar" because of evildoers. The point is not that those who follow God ought to ignore sin; rather, it's that we shouldn't succumb to fear or despair (Matthew 6:25–34). Wicked people cannot cause our temperature to rise—for us to become truly anxious—unless we allow them to do so.

Also, those who believe the Lord cares for us regardless of what the wrongdoers have should not be envious. The writer to the Hebrews calls on us to maintain the right attitude toward material things. He wrote: "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5). Those who ignore God may think they are coming out ahead, when in fact they're giving up eternity for the sake of something temporary (Mark 8:36).

It's also true that the evil won't always be there to harass the righteous, as the next verse makes clear (Psalm 37:2).

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.