Psalm 37:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

NIV: A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

NASB: Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

CSB: A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there.

NLT: Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.

KJV: For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

NKJV: For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.

David assures his readers that the wicked will not survive the Lord's judgment. Earlier verses warned against becoming agitated or vengeful over the apparent success of evil people (Psalm 37:1–2, 8–9). God's perspective is eternal, and that means no act of sin will go without punishment (Hebrews 4:13). Once we embrace the fact that earthly life is temporary and short (Psalm 90:12; James 4:14), there is no reason to get heated or jealous over evil people. God's judgment will come, and it will be perfect (Romans 12:19).

Jesus told the story of a rich farmer who was an unbeliever. He thought he could satisfy his soul with material goods, and he planned to build more barns to accommodate his bumper crop. He told his soul to take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry. However, he did not live to see the light of morning because God required his soul that night (Luke 12:16–21). Someday, the righteous will live forever with the Lord, but all the wicked will experience the lake of fire (John 14:1–3; Revelation 20:10–15).

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.

Accessed 5/2/2024 10:55:25 PM