Passage

Psalms 37

Book: Psalms · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. ^{A Psalm of David.} Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3. Trust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness. 4. Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart. 5. Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass. 6. And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, And thy justice as the noon-day. 7. Rest in Jehovah, 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. 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing. 9. For evil-doers shall be cut off; But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land. 10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be. 11. But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12. The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13. The Lord will laugh at him; For he seeth that his day is coming. 14. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way. 15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken. 16. Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked. 17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous. 18. Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; And their inheritance shall be for ever. 19. They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20. But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; in smoke shall they consume away. 21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; But the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth. 22. For such as are blessed of him shall inherit the land; And they that are cursed of him shall be cut off. 23. A man's goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way. 24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand. 25. I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread. 26. All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed. 27. Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore. 28. For Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever. 30. The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice. 31. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. 32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him. 33. Jehovah will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. 34. Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35. I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. 36. But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37. 480 the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a happy end to the man of peace. 38. As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; The end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39. But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40. And Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them; He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken refuge in him." (Psalms 37:1-40, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb. 3. Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. 4. Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5. Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this: 6. he will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun. 7. Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen. 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing. 9. For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land. 10. For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there. 11. But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12. The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. 13. The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. 14. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path. 15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken. 16. Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked. 17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous. 18. Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever. 19. They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20. But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish, vanish like smoke. 21. The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously. 22. For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off. 23. A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way. 24. Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand. 25. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. 26. All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed. 27. Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever. 28. For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever. 30. The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. 31. The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide. 32. The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him. 33. Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34. Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. 35. I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. 36. But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37. Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 38. As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39. But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40. Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him." (Psalms 37:1-40, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. ^{verily: Heb. in truth, or, stableness} 4. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ^{Commit: Heb. Roll thy way upon} 6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7. 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. ^{Rest in: Heb. Be silent to} 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. ^{plotteth: or, practiseth} 13. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. ^{such: Heb. the upright of way} 15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. ^{the fat: Heb. the preciousness} 21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. ^{ordered: or, established} 24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. ^{ever: Heb. all the day} 27. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. ^{steps: or, goings} 32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34. Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. ^{a green: or, a green tree that groweth in his own soil} 36. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him." (Psalms 37:1-40, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. By David. Do not fret because of evil doers, Be not envious against doers of iniquity, 2. For as grass speedily they are cut off, And as the greenness of the tender grass do fade. 3. Trust in Jehovah, and do good, Dwell [in] the land, and enjoy faithfulness, 4. And delight thyself on Jehovah, And He giveth to thee the petitions of thy heart. 5. Roll on Jehovah thy way, And trust upon Him, and He worketh, 6. And hath brought out as light thy righteousness, And thy judgment as noon-day. 7. Be silent for Jehovah, and stay thyself for Him, Do not fret because of him Who is making prosperous his way, Because of a man doing wicked devices. 8. Desist from anger, and forsake fury, Fret not thyself only to do evil. 9. For evil doers are cut off, As to those waiting on Jehovah, they possess the land. 10. And yet a little, and the wicked is not, And thou hast considered his place, and it is not. 11. And the humble do possess the land, And they have delighted themselves In the abundance of peace. 12. The wicked is devising against the righteous, And gnashing against him his teeth. 13. The Lord doth laugh at him, For He hath seen that his day cometh. 14. A sword have the wicked opened, And they have trodden their bow, To cause to fall the poor and needy, To slaughter the upright of the way. 15. Their sword doth enter into their own heart, And their bows are shivered. 16. Better [is] the little of the righteous, Than the store of many wicked. 17. For the arms of the wicked are shivered, And Jehovah is sustaining the righteous. 18. Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect, And their inheritance is, to the age. 19. They are not ashamed in a time of evil, And in days of famine they are satisfied. 20. But the wicked perish, and the enemies of Jehovah, As the preciousness of lambs, Have been consumed, In smoke they have been consumed. 21. The wicked is borrowing and repayeth not, And the righteous is gracious and giving. 22. For His blessed ones do possess the land, And His reviled ones are cut off. 23. From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, They have been prepared, And his way he desireth. 24. When he falleth, he is not cast down, For Jehovah is sustaining his hand. 25. Young I have been, I have also become old, And I have not seen the righteous forsaken, And his seed seeking bread. 26. All the day he is gracious and lending, And his seed [is] for a blessing. 27. Turn aside from evil, and do good, and dwell to the age. 28. For Jehovah is loving judgment, And He doth not forsake His saintly ones, To the age they have been kept, And the seed of the wicked is cut off. 29. The righteous possess the land, And they dwell for ever on it. 30. The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And his tongue speaketh judgment. 31. The law of his God [is] his heart, His steps do not slide. 32. The wicked is watching for the righteous, And is seeking to put him to death. 33. Jehovah doth not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him in his being judged. 34. Look unto Jehovah, and keep His way, And He doth exalt thee to possess the land, In the wicked being cut off, thou seest! 35. I have seen the wicked terrible, And spreading as a green native plant, 36. And he passeth away, and lo, he is not, And I seek him, and he is not found! 37. Observe the perfect, and see the upright, For the latter end of each [is] peace. 38. And transgressors were destroyed together, The latter end of the wicked was cut off. 39. And the salvation of the righteous [is] from Jehovah, Their strong place in a time of adversity. 40. And Jehovah doth help them and deliver them, He delivereth them from the wicked, And saveth them, Because they trusted in Him!" (Psalms 37:1-40, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Conditional Immortality

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.