Psalm 37:1-9 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:9

For evildoers shall be cut off ,.... Though they flourish for a while, they shall be cut down like the grass or flower of the field, or they shall be cut off as branches from a flourishing tree; they shall be cut off from the earth, and rooted out of it by death or some desolating judgment; see Proverbs 2:22 ; and therefore not to be envied and fretted at; but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth ; such who attend his word, worship, and ordinances; obey his commands,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:1

Fret not thyself because of evil doers - It is as foolish as it is wicked to repine or be envious at the prosperity of others. Whether they are godly or ungodly, it is God who is the dispenser of the bounty they enjoy; and, most assuredly, he has a right to do what he will with his own. To be envious in such a case, is to arraign the providence of God. And it is no small condescension in the Almighty to reason with such persons as he does in this Psalm. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:2

For they shall soon be cut down - They have their portion in this life; and their enjoyment of it cannot be long, for their breath is but a vapor that speedily vanishes away. They fall before death, as the greensward does before the scythe of the mower. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:3

Dwell in the land - Do not flee to foreign climes to escape from that providence which, for thy own good, denies thee affluence in thy own country. And verily thou shalt be fed - God will provide for thee the necessaries of life: its conveniences might damp thy intellect in its inventions, and lead thee into idleness; and its superfluities would induce thee to pamper thy passions till the concerns of thy soul would be absorbed in those of the flesh and, after having lived an animal life,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:4

Delight thyself also in the Lord - Expect all thy happiness from him, and seek it in him. The desires of thine heart - משאלות mishaloth , the petitions. The godly man never indulges a desire which he cannot form into a prayer to God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:5

Commit thy way unto the Lord - יהוה על גול gol al Yehovah , Roll thy way upon the Lord: probably, a metaphor taken from the camel, who lies down till his load be rolled upon him. He shall bring it to pass - יעשה yaaseh , "He will work." Trust God, and he will work for thee. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:6

Thy righteousness as the light - As God said in the beginning, "Let there be light, and there was light;" so he shall say, Let thy innocence appear, and it will appear as suddenly and as evident as the light was at the beginning. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:7

Rest in the Lord - דום dom , "be silent, be dumb." Do not find fault with thy Maker; he does all things well for others, he will do all things well for thee. And wait patiently for him - לו והתחולל vehithcholel lo , and set thyself to expect him; and be determined to expect, or wait for him. Such is the import of a verb in the hithpoel conjugation. A heathen gives good advice on a similar subject: - Nil ergo optabunt homines? Si consilium vis, Permittes ipsis expendere... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:9

They shall inherit the earth - The word ארץ arets , throughout this Psalm, should be translated land, not earth; for it is most probable that it refers to the land of Judea; and in this verse there is a promise of their return thither. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:1

Verse 1 1.Fret not thyself because of the wicked. David lays down this as a general principle, that the prosperity of the wicked, in which they greatly rejoice, should on no account vex or disquiet the children of God, because it will soon fade away. On the other hand, although the people of God are afflicted for a time, yet the issue of their afflictions shall be such, that they have every reason to be contented with their lot. Now all this depends upon the providence of God; for unless we are... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:1

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