Psalm 37:16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 37:7-20

In these verses we have, I. The foregoing precepts inculcated; for we are so apt to disquiet ourselves with needless fruitless discontents and distrusts that it is necessary there should be precept upon precept, and line upon line, to suppress them and arm us against them. 1. Let us compose ourselves by believing in God: ?Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him (Ps. 37:7), that is, be well reconciled to all he does and acquiesce in it, for that is best that is, because it is what God has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:16

A little that a righteous man hath ,.... It is the portion of the righteous, for the most part, to have but little of this world's goods; some indeed have been rich, as Abraham, Lot, David, Joseph of Arimathea, and others; but, generally speaking, the wicked have the largest share of worldly things, and the righteous but little, and are as having nothing comparatively; and yet their little is better than the riches of many wicked ; not that a little is better than much, or that poverty... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:16

A little that a righteous man hath - This is a solid maxim. Whatever a good man has, has God's blessing in it; even the blessings of the wicked are cursed. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:16

Verse 16 16.Better is the little of the righteous, etc This verse, without any sufficient reason, has been variously rendered. The word המון , hamon, (32) which is rendered abundance, indeed, sometimes signifies a great multitude of men, and sometimes abundance of things; sometimes, too, an adjective of the plural number is joined to a substantive of the singular number. But those who wrest David’s words to this sense, that a few righteous persons are better than a great multitude of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

The psalm is wholly didactic. It begins with exhortation, which is carried on through five stanzas to the end of Psalms 37:9 . Exhortation then gives place to calm and unimpassioned instruction, of a character resembling that which makes up the bulk of the Book of Proverbs. This tone continues to the end of verse 33, when there is a return to exhortation, but exhortation (verses 34, 37) mingled with instruction (verses 35, 36, 38-40). The whole poem is grave, quiet, equable, devoid of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

The good man's directory. This is a very remarkable psalm. Its theme is one throughout its entire length. Yet it is not so much drawn out consecutively as repeated proverbially. This may be partly accounted for by its alphabetical structure. £ There is no advance between the verses at the commencement and those at its close, but rather a remarkable variety of beautiful turns of expression to a thought that is the same throughout. The whole psalm may be summed up thus: "Just now, you see... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

Two pictures. The psalmist says, at Psalms 37:25 , "I have been young, and now am old . " We may regard him therefore as speaking in this psalm with the fulness of knowledge and the confidence of ripened wisdom. His old experience has attained to prophetic strain. Let us consider two pictures. I. THE EVILS OF ENVY . It is common. It takes its rise and works upon the lower part of our nature, blinding our minds, perverting our hearts, and stirring up all our evil passions.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:12-20

The righteous and the wicked. The argument is continued and repeated in various forms, that the righteous is to hold fast his confidence in God, and not to be discouraged by the prosperity of the wicked. For— I. CONSIDER THE EXPERIENCE OF THE WICKED . ( Psalms 37:12-15 , Psalms 37:20 .) 1 . The impotence of the plots which they in their anger devise. ( Psalms 37:12 , Psalms 37:13 .) The Lord shall laugh. "No weapon formed against him shall prosper." 2 . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:16

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked (comp. Proverbs 15:16 ; Proverbs 16:8 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 37:16

A little that a righteous man hath - literally, “Good is a little to the righteous, more than,” etc. Our translation, however, has expressed the sense with sufficient accuracy. There are two things implied here:(a) that it happens not unfrequently that the righteous have little of the wealth of this world; and(b) that this little is to them of more real value, accompanied, as it is, with higher blessings, than the more abundant wealth which the wicked often possess.It is better to have but... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 37:7-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 37:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:1-40

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:12-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 37:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 37:16

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