Psalm 37:20

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 37:20

But the wicked shall perish ,.... In a time of famine, in an evil day, and particularly at the day of judgment: for this is to be understood, not merely of being in bodily distress and want; nor of perishing by death, common to the righteous and the wicked; nor of being in a lost perishing condition, as all men by nature are, but of eternal perdition in hell; and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs, they shall consume ; that is, either they shall consume away as the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:20

The enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs - This verse has given the critics some trouble. Several of the Versions read thus: "But the enemies of the Lord, as soon as they are exalted to honor, shall vanish; like smoke they vanish." If we follow the Hebreto, it intimates that they shall consume as the fat of lambs. That is, as the fat is wholly consumed in sacrifices by the fire on the altar, so shall they consume away in the fire of God's wrath. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 37:20

Verse 20 20For the wicked shall perish. The causal particle כי, ki, which is here translated for, might also be rendered as if used adversatively by but or although, unless, perhaps, some would prefer to expound the sentence as of much higher import. But the preferable interpretation is, that there is here a contrast between the subjects spoken of, namely, that the righteous are satisfied in the time of famine, whereas the ungodly shall perish in the midst of their affluence; for, while they... 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 37:20

But the wicked shall perish (comp. Psalms 37:2 , Psalms 37:9 , Psalms 37:10 , Psalms 37:15 , Psalms 37:36 ); literally, for the wicked shall perish. The happiness of the righteous cannot be complete until the wicked are removed out of their way; since, so long as they continue in the world, they will be ever vexing the righteous and troubling them ( Psalms 56:1 ). And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs . So, many of the old commentators, as Aquila, Kimchi,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 37:20

But the wicked shall perish - The general sentiment here is the same as in Psalms 1:1-6, that the righteous shall be prospered and saved, and that the wicked shall perish. See the notes at Psalms 1:4-5. The word “perish” here would be applicable to any form of destruction - death here, or death hereafter - for it is equivalent to the idea that they shall be “destroyed.” Whether the psalmist means here to refer to the fact that they will be cut off from the earth, or will be punished hereafter... read more

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