Psalm 37:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

NIV: but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

NASB: The Lord will not leave him in his hand Or let him be condemned when he is judged.

CSB: the Lord will not leave him in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.

NLT: But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

KJV: The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

NKJV: The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.

David is assured that God will not forsake the righteous when the wicked attempts to kill them. As with many statements in books like Psalms and Proverbs, these are statements of general cases, and of personal perspectives. David understood even the righteous can suffer at the hands of evil people (Psalm 3:1–2; 27:12; 34:19). Jesus was also honest about the reality of earthly hardships (John 16:33). What believers trust in is God's eternal salvation (John 10:28). In the ultimate judgment of all things, believers will be justified (Romans 5:9), while the wicked who reject God will be condemned (Jude 1:14–15).

On earth, the wicked may find a way to falsely accuse a righteous person and bring them to trial, as Jesus' accusers did. Matthew 26:59 tells us "the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death." Their search, however, was futile until two false witnesses came forward and accused him of saying, "I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days" (Matthew 26:60–61).

In ancient times, the wicked rich oppressed the poor and took them to court to obtain what little they had. The apostle James appealed to his readers not to favor the rich over the poor. He asked: "Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?" (James 2:6–7).

Psalm 37:32–40 describes the actions of the wicked and the judgment they face at the hands of the Lord. It also relates what the righteous person ought to do and what the Lord will do for him. The wicked have a dreadful future, whereas the future of the righteous is one of exaltation, peace, and deliverance.

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.