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Psalm Thirty-seven
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO Psalm 37
cf15I A Psalm of David. This psalm
it is very probable
was written at the same time
and upon the same occasion
with the former; and
describes the different states of good and bad men; and is full of exhortations
instructions
and advice to the people of God; intermixed with various
encouraging promises. A late learned writerF8Delaney's Life of King
David
vol. 2. p. 219. thinks it was written for Mephibosheth's consolation
under Ziba's calumny.
Psalm 37:1 Do
not fret because of evildoers
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
YLT
1By David. Do not fret
because of evil doers
Be not envious against doers of iniquity
Fret not thyself because of evildoers
.... The
saints may be grieved at them and for them
because of their evil doings
and
may be angry with them for them; yet are not to show any undue warmth
at least
in an indecent way
by calling them opprobrious names; for the words may be
rendered
"do not show thyself warm" or "angry"F9תתחר "ne accendaris ira"
Junius &
Tremellius; "ne exardescas"
Gejerus
Michaelis. : in a sinful way;
or fret not at their outward prosperity
as it is explained Psalm 37:7. The
Targum adds
"to be like them"
which agrees with Psalm 37:8;
neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity; that is
at
their present temporal happiness; see Psalm 73:3. The
Targum adds
as before
to be joined with them; which sense some parallel
places seem to incline to
Proverbs 3:31.
Psalm 37:2 2 For they shall soon be cut
down like the grass
And wither as the green herb.
YLT
2For as grass speedily they
are cut off
And as the greenness of the tender grass do fade.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass
and wither as the
green herb. Which in the morning looks green
pretty
and flourishing
and in
the evening is cut down
and then fades away; see Psalm 90:5; and so
the wicked prosper and flourish for a while
and then they perish with all
their honour
riches
and wealth; so that their happiness is a very short lived
one
and therefore need not be envied and fretted at.
Psalm 37:3 3 Trust in the Lord
and do good; Dwell
in the land
and feed on His faithfulness.
YLT
3Trust in Jehovah
and do
good
Dwell [in] the land
and enjoy faithfulness
Trust in the Lord
.... Not in men
who are fading and perishing
like the green grass and tender herb; nor in riches
which are very uncertain
things; but in the Lord
in whom is everlasting strength; and with whom are
riches and honour
yea
durable riches and righteousness; trust in him both for
things temporal and spiritual
for soul and body
for time and eternity; the
way to have peace and quietness of mind under all dispensations is to exercise
faith on a promising God. The Targum is
"trust in the Word of the
Lord"
in the essential Word of God
the promised Messiah;
and do good; in general
all good actions
in faith
and as the fruits and
effects of it
without trusting to them
but in the Lord; doing them in his
strength
and with a view to his glory; or in particular
acts of beneficence
to the poor
to which the encouragement follows;
so shalt thou dwell in the
land; either in the land of Canaan
a continuance in which depended
upon the obedience of the people of the Jews to the commands of God; see Isaiah 1:19; or
rather in the good land which is afar off
the heavenly and better country
which those that trust in the Lord
and have that faith in Christ which works
by love
shall dwell in to all eternity;
and verily thou shalt be fed; either temporally
shall
have food and raiment
even all the necessaries of life; or spiritually
with
the word and ordinances
and with Christ the bread of life now; and hereafter
shall be fed by him
the Lamb in the midst of the throne
and by him led to
fountains of living water: some read the words as an exhortation
and render
them
"feed truth"F11רעה אמונה "pasce veritatem"
Pagninus
Montanus.
that is
teach it
as Abraham taught his household
and as faithful pastors
feed with knowledge and understanding; or "feed by faith"F12"Pascere
fide"
Junius & Tremellius
Cocceius.
as the just live by it; or
as
the Targum renders it
"be strong in faith"
as Abraham was
Romans 4:20; or
rather
"feed upon truth"F13"Pasce te veritate"
Gejerus; "ut alimentum tuum"
Gussetius
Ebr. Comment. p. 942.
"feed on faith"
Ainsworth.
the word of truth
the Gospel of
salvation
and the several truths and doctrines of it
which are food for
faith
and nourish up to everlasting life.
Psalm 37:4 4 Delight yourself also in
the Lord
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
YLT
4And delight thyself on
Jehovah
And He giveth to thee the petitions of thy heart.
Delight thyself also in the Lord
.... In the persons in
God
Father
Son
and Spirit; in the perfections of God
his power
goodness
faithfulness
wisdom
love
grace
and mercy; in his works of creation
providence
and redemption; in his word
his Gospel
the truths and ordinances
of it; in his house
and the worship of it; and in his people
the excellent in
the earth
in whom was all the delight of the psalmist; and each of these
afford a field of delight and pleasure
to attend unto
contemplate
and
meditate upon;
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart; such as are
according to the will of God
and for the good of his people; such as relate to
communion with him
and to the communication of more grace from him
and to the
enjoyment of eternal glory.
Psalm 37:5 5 Commit your way to the Lord
Trust also in
Him
And He shall bring it to pass.
YLT
5Roll on Jehovah thy way
And trust upon Him
and He worketh
Commit thy way unto the Lord
.... Or "thy
works"
as in Proverbs 16:3; that
is
all the affairs and business of life
which are a man's ways in which he
walks; not that men should sit still
be inactive
and do nothing
and leave
all to be done by the Lord; but should seek direction of God in everything
engaged in
and for strength and assistance to perform it
and go on in it
and
depend upon him for success
and give him all the glory
without trusting to
any thing done by them: or
as some render the words
"reveal thy way unto
the Lord"F14גול αποκαλυψον
Sept. "revela"
V. L. Junius & Tremellius
Piscator; so the Targum
Cocceius
Gejerus
Michaelis. ; not that God is
ignorant of the ways of men
and of their affairs
and of their wants and
necessities
but it is their duty to ask
and it is his delight to hear; they
may come and use freedom with him
and tell him their whole case
and leave it
with him
believing he will supply all their need: or
as others render it
"roll thy way on the Lord"F15"Devolve super
Jehovam"
Tigurine version. ; see Psalm 55:22;
meaning not the burden of sin
nor the weight of affliction
but any affair of
moment and importance that lies heavy upon the mind;
trust also in him; it is an ease to the mind to spread it
before the Lord
who sympathizes with his people
supports them under and
brings them through their difficulties;
and he shall bring it to pass; as he does
whatever he has appointed and determined shall be
and whatever he has
promised
and whatever will be for his own glory and his people's good.
Psalm 37:6 6 He shall bring forth your
righteousness as the light
And your justice as the noonday.
YLT
6And hath brought out as
light thy righteousness
And thy judgment as noon-day.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light
.... That is
the good man having committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously
he
will
in his own time
clearly make it appear that it is a righteous one
both
to himself and others
in whatsoever obscurity it may have lain;
and thy judgment as the noonday; the same as before
unless rather the righteousness of Christ
which is the believer's by
imputation
and is a justifying one in the judgment of God
should be meant;
see Micah 7:9; and the
phrases may denote not barely the revelation of it in the Gospel
but the more
clear manifestation of it to the believer himself
from faith to faith; or as
it will be still more clearly revealed and declared at the day of judgment
when those who are clothed with it shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of
their Father
and be clear of all those charges and imputations which they have
lain under in this life.
Psalm 37:7 7 Rest in the Lord
and wait
patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way
Because
of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
YLT
7Be 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.
Rest in the Lord
.... Or "be silent to the Lord"F16דום ליהוה "tace
Domino"
Pagninus
Montanus; "sile"
Musculus
Piscator
Tigurine version
Cocceius
Gejerus
Michaelis; so Ainsworth. ; be still
and
know that he is God; quietly submit to his will
and acquiesce in all the
dispensations of his providence: it does not design a stupid indolence
or a
stoical apathy
that we should be like sticks and stones
without any concern
at the hand of God upon us; nor an entire silence under afflictions; we should
own that they are of God
and that we are deserving of them; we should pray to
him to sanctify them
to support under them
and deliver out of them; we should
bless his name that they are no worse
and that they are any ways useful to us;
and we should speak to others of the divine goodness experienced under them;
but this stands opposed to an arraigning or murmuring at the providence of God
and intends a patient bearing the hand of God
and a resignation of will to his
will; for it follows
and wait patiently for him: for the enjoyment of
him
help from him
and deliverance by him;
fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way
because
of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass; this explains the sense
of Psalm 37:1; it
being often an additional uneasiness to the people of God under affliction
when they observe the prosperity of men that go on in a sinful way
and have
all or more than heart can wish; and whatever they contrive and devise
though
wicked and criminal.
Psalm 37:8 8 Cease from anger
and
forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
YLT
8Desist from anger
and
forsake fury
Fret not thyself only to do evil.
Cease from anger
.... Either at these wicked men who are so
prosperous
or at God
who for the present suffers it; see Jonah 4:9
Proverbs 19:3;
and forsake wrath; which is anger wrought up to a greater
degree; and the rather to be shunned and avoided
as being very disagreeable to
the character of a good man;
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil; evil may be
done by fretting at the prosperity of wicked men
or by imitating them
doing
as they do
in hope of being prosperous as they are; from which the psalmist
dissuades by reasons following.
Psalm 37:9 9 For evildoers shall be cut
off; But those who wait on the Lord
They shall inherit the
earth.
YLT
9For evil doers are cut off
As to those waiting on Jehovah
they possess the land.
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
trust in his grace
and mercy; or
as the Targum
"trust in the word of the Lord"; who
wait upon him for the manifestations of himself
for the performance of his
promises
for answer of prayer
for supplies of grace
and live in the
expectation of the heavenly glory; these shall have for their inheritance
not
the land of Canaan
a land flowing with milk and honey
which the obedient Jews
enjoyed; but either this world and the necessaries of it
which such persons
have the promise of
a right unto through Christ
are heirs of
and do enjoy
what they do with a blessing; or else the new earth after this
in which only
righteous ones
those that wait upon the Lord
and trust in him
will dwell;
unless the heavenly country
the good land afar off
is meant
often called an
inheritance.
Psalm 37:10 10 For yet a little while and
the wicked shall be no more; Indeed
you will look carefully for
his place
But it shall be no more.
YLT
10And yet a little
and the
wicked is not
And thou hast considered his place
and it is not.
For yet a little while
and the wicked shall not be
.... Not that
they shall be annihilated or reduced to nothing
because nonentities have no
place nor being any where; when they die they shall lift up their eyes in hell;
their bodies will rise again at the last day; they shall stand before the
judgment seat of Christ
and go into everlasting punishment; but they shall be
no more in the world
and in the same flourishing and prosperous circumstances
they were: and this their destruction will be in a short time
very quickly;
yea
thou shalt diligently consider his place
and it shall
not be; his dwelling place
called after his own name
to perpetuate the
memory of him; see Job 7:10; an
instance of this the psalmist gives of his own knowledge
Psalm 37:35.
Psalm 37:11 11 But the meek shall inherit
the earth
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
YLT
11And the humble do possess
the land
And they have delighted themselves In the abundance of peace.
But the meek shall inherit the earth
.... See Gill
on Psalm 37:9; of this
character See Gill on Psalm 22:26. Our
Lord seems to refer to this passage in Matthew 5:5;
and shall delight themselves is the abundance of peace; of spiritual
peace enjoyed in a way of believing
arising from a comfortable view of
interest in the blood
righteousness
and sacrifice of Christ; and of all
happiness and prosperity in the kingdom of Christ here on earth
at which time
there will be abundance of peace
Psalm 72:7; or of
eternal peace in the world to come
which will be a state of uninterrupted and
unspeakable peace; see Psalm 37:37; all
which afford inconceivable delight and pleasure; and therefore such have no
need to fret and be envious at the fading happiness of wicked men.
Psalm 37:12 12 The wicked plots against
the just
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
YLT
12The wicked is devising
against the righteous
And gnashing against him his teeth.
The wicked plotteth against the just
.... Forms
schemes to make him uneasy
uncomfortable
and unhappy:
and gnasheth upon him with his teeth: which
expresses his malice and hatred
as David's enemies did upon him
Psalm 35:16; and
Stephen's
Acts 7:54.
Psalm 37:13 13 The Lord laughs at him
For
He sees that his day is coming.
YLT
13The Lord doth laugh at him
For He hath seen that his day cometh.
Verse 13
The Lord shall laugh at him
.... Have him and his
plots in derision
confound his schemes
and disappoint him of his designs
bring him into calamity
and laugh at it; see Psalm 2:4;
for he seeth that his day is coming; either the day of the
Lord
which he has appointed to judge the world in
and which comes suddenly
at unawares
as a thief in the night
and is known unto the Lord
though to
none else; or the day of the wicked man's ruin and destruction
to which he is
appointed
and which is the same; and so the Targum is
"the day of his
calamity": which the Lord observes is hastening on
when he will be for
ever miserable.
Psalm 37:14 14 The wicked have drawn the
sword And have bent their bow
To cast down the poor and needy
To slay those
who are of upright conduct.
YLT
14A 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.
The wicked have drawn out the sword
.... That is
out of the
scabbard; they drew upon the righteous
in order to sheath it in them; or they
sharpened the sword
as Aben Ezra observes some interpret the word; it may be
literally rendered
"opened the sword"F17חרב פתחו "aperuerunt
gladium"
Gejerus.
which before lay hid in the scabbard:
and have bent their bow; having put the arrow in
it
in order to shoot. The former expression may design the more open
and this
the more secret way of acting against the righteous; and their view in both is
to cast down the poor and needy
who are so
both in a
temporal and spiritual sense; to cause such to fall either into sin
or into
some calamity or another:
and to slay such as be of
upright conversation; who walk according to the rule of the word of God
and as
becomes the Gospel of Christ: nothing less than the blood and life of these men
will satisfy the wicked; and it is an aggravation of their wickedness that they
should attempt to hurt men of such character who are poor and needy
holy
harmless
inoffensive
and upright; and this points at the reason why they hate
them
and seek their ruin
because of the holiness and uprightness of their
lives; see John 15:19.
Psalm 37:15 15 Their sword shall enter
their own heart
And their bows shall be broken.
YLT
15Their sword doth enter into
their own heart
And their bows are shivered.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart
.... As Saul's
did into his
1 Samuel 31:4;
and their bows shall be broken; the meaning is
that
their efforts shall be fruitless
and their attempts in vain; the mischief they
have contrived and designed for others shall fall upon themselves; see Psalm 7:15; and
therefore the saints should not be fretful and envious.
Psalm 37:16 16 A little that a righteous
man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
YLT
16Better [is] the little of
the righteous
Than the store of many wicked.
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 is better
than riches
or a poor man better than a rich man; but the comparison is
between a righteous man and a wicked man; the emphasis lies there; and the
sense is
that a "righteous" man's "little" is better than
a "wicked" man's "much"; the righteous have a right to what
they have
through Christ
who is heir of all things
but not the wicked; they
have what they have in love and with a blessing
not so the wicked; they are
contented in their state and condition
when the wicked are never satisfied;
they possess and enjoy what they have
even all they have
when God oftentimes
does not give the wicked an heart to eat and drink of what they are possessed
but a stranger eats it; they have the presence of God with them
and that makes
a little sweet
and to go a great way; and they live without any anxious
distressing
burdensome care; not so the wicked; and before long the tables
will be turned
and they will have their good things
and the wicked their evil
things; see Proverbs 16:8;
wherefore they have no need to fret under present circumstances
nor envy the
happiness of wicked men. Arama interprets it
of a little help that a righteous
man has
better than the riches of many wicked; and GussetiusF18Ebr.
Comment. p. 213
475. understands all this not of the smallness and largeness
of the substance of different persons
but of their numbers
the one small
the
other large; and Jarchi
that the sense is
that a few persons with the
righteous
which was the case of Abraham and Gideon
are better and succeed
more than the multitude of many wicked persons; and the church should be
content with a small number of believers
and not draw in a multitude of wicked
men into their communion.
Psalm 37:17 17 For the arms of the wicked
shall be broken
But the Lord
upholds the righteous.
YLT
17For the arms of the wicked
are shivered
And Jehovah is sustaining the righteous.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken
.... That is
their sword arm
with which they have drawn it; and so shall not be able to
strike with it; and with which they have bent their bows
but shall not be able
to shoot: and this proves
what is before suggested
that their efforts shall
be fruitless; or their substance shall be taken away from them
in which they
trusted
and wherein their strength lay; and this confirms what had been just
spoken
that the righteous man's little is better than the wicked man's much;
and which is further confirmed by what follows;
but the Lord upholdeth the righteous; both in a
providential way
by supporting them in their being
supplying their need
preserving them from dangers
and bearing them up under all their afflictions;
and in a spiritual way
by maintaining the principle of grace and life in them
by furnishing them with all spiritual blessings
by sustaining them in times of
temptation
and by securing them safe from their enemies; upholding them so as
that they stand in the grace of God now
and shall stand before Christ with
confidence hereafter; and shall not fall here finally and totally
nor in the
day of judgment. The Targum is
"the Word of the Lord upholdeth the
righteous".
Psalm 37:18 18 The Lord knows the days
of the upright
And their inheritance shall be forever.
YLT
18Jehovah knoweth the days of
the perfect
And their inheritance is -- to the age.
The Lord knoweth the days of the upright
.... Not only
how long they shall live
and so fill up their days
the number of them
as
Aben Ezra interprets it; but the nature of their days
whether prosperous or
adverse; and causes both to work together for their good; and he knows the work
of their days
as Jarchi explains it
the actions done by them in faith and
love
and to his honour and glory
and which he approves and accepts of in
Christ; see Psalm 1:6;
and their inheritance shall be for ever; in heaven
which is an eternal and never fading one
Hebrews 9:15; and therefore
they ought not to fret and be envious.
Psalm 37:19 19 They shall not be ashamed
in the evil time
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
YLT
19They are not ashamed in a
time of evil
And in days of famine they are satisfied.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time
.... Of
affliction and persecution
or of old age
or in the day of judgment
when it
will go ill with others; see 1 John 2:28;
and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied: whether it is
understood figuratively of a famine of hearing the word
or literally of a
proper famine of bread and water: these God will provide for them
as he did
for Elijah
and they shall be sure unto them
and therefore let them not fret
nor envy.
Psalm 37:20 20 But the wicked shall
perish; And the enemies of the Lord
Like the splendor of the
meadows
shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.
YLT
20But the wicked perish
and
the enemies of Jehovah
As the preciousness of lambs
Have been consumed
In
smoke they have been consumed.
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 fat of lambs
burnt upon the altar
which evaporates
or as lambs fattened on purpose to be
killed
and so prepared for the day of slaughter; in like manner the wicked
who have waxed fat and kicked
will be destroyed; they being the enemies of
God
yea
enmity to him
to Father
Son
and Spirit
to the Gospel and
ordinances of Christ
and to his people
and will be treated as such. Some
render the word
"like the excellency of pastures"F19כיקר כרים "sicut pretiosum
pratorum"
Muis; so some in Piscator; "vel gloria"
Michaelis. ;
the grass of the field
which is cut down and withers presently; see Psalm 37:2;
into smoke shall they consume away
or "with"F20בעשן "cum fumo"
Gejerus
Tigurine version; so
Ainsworth. it; that is
as it; see Psalm 68:1; or
"in smoke"F21"In fumo"
Montanus
Musculus
Michaelis. ; in the smoke of eternal torments
or hell
as the Targum.
Psalm 37:21 21 The wicked borrows and
does not repay
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
YLT
21The wicked is borrowing and
repayeth not
And the righteous is gracious and giving.
The wicked borroweth
and payeth not again
.... While the
wicked live
they are scandalous; they live by borrowing
which was always
reckoned mean; see Deuteronomy 28:12;
and what is worse
as they borrow
they do not design to repay; they take no
care nor thought about that
but live upon what they borrow: for this either
expresses their incapacity that they cannot pay; or the evil disposition of
their mind
which rather seems to be the sense
that they will not pay;
but the righteous showeth mercy
and giveth; which not
only argues capacity and ability
but a kind
merciful
and tender spirit to
persons in distress
and is expressive of a generous action.
Psalm 37:22 22 For those blessed
by Him shall inherit the earth
But those cursed by Him shall be cut
off.
YLT
22For His blessed ones do
possess the land
And His reviled ones are cut off.
For such as be blessed of him
.... Not of
the righteous man; for he blesses them that curse and persecute him
and
despitefully use him; but of the Lord
as the Syriac version expresses it; or
by the Word of the Lord
as the Targum; both in a providential way
for it is
the blessing of the Lord that makes rich
and puts into a capacity to give to
others; and in a way of grace
with an interest in God as a covenant God in
Christ; and with the blessings of grace in him
with a justifying
righteousness
pardon of sin
and a right to eternal glory. The Septuagint
version
and those that follow that
render the words actively
"such as
bless him"; either such as bless the righteous
who are blessed also
Genesis 12:3; or
rather such as bless the Lord
as the righteous do
for all their blessings
temporal and spiritual they receive from him; these
shall inherit the earth; See Gill on Psalm 37:9;
and they that be cursed of him; not of the
righteous man
but of the Lord
according to the tenor of his righteous law
which they have broken:
shall be cut off; out of the land of the living; many of them
in the midst of their days
and shall everlastingly perish.
Psalm 37:23 23 The steps of a good
man are ordered by the Lord
And He delights in his way.
YLT
23From Jehovah [are] the
steps of a man
They have been prepared
And his way he desireth.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord
.... Or
"of a man"F23גבר
"hominis"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. ; such a man as is blessed of
the Lord; the steps which he takes in life are ordered by the Lord
both with
respect to things temporal and spiritual: his good conduct is not of himself
it is a blessing of the Lord
who directs and keeps the feet of his saints
and
inclines them to take such steps
and pursue such methods
which he succeeds
and prospers;
and he delighteth in his way; which he knows and
approves of
guides and directs him in; see Psalm 1:6.
Psalm 37:24 24 Though he fall
he shall
not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with
His hand.
YLT
24When he falleth
he is not
cast down
For Jehovah is sustaining his hand.
Though he fall
.... Into temptation
and by it into sins
and these very great ones; from a lively and comfortable exercise of grace
and
a degree of steadfastness in the doctrine of grace:
he shall not be utterly cast down; because he is in the
arms of everlasting love
and in the hands of Christ Jesus; is on him as the
sure foundation
and is kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
and so shall not perish
but have everlasting life;
for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand; with the
right hand of his righteousness
and keeps him from falling finally and
totally; see Isaiah 41:10; and
See Gill on Psalm 37:17.
Psalm 37:25 25 I have been young
and now
am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Nor his descendants begging
bread.
YLT
25Young I have been
I have
also become old
And I have not seen the righteous forsaken
And his seed
seeking bread.
I have been young
and now am old
.... The
psalmist makes mention of his age
which takes in the whole compass of his
life
to command attention to what he was about to say; which was founded upon
a long experience and observation of things
and was as follows;
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken; though
afflicted of God
and persecuted by men
yet not forsaken; though poor and
needy
and often in necessitous circumstances
yet God in his providence
appeared for them in one way or another; and so as Apollinarius paraphrases it
"I
never knew a just man entirely needy;'
for
such might be forsaken by men
and even by their dearest friends and relations
yet not by the Lord: they might indeed
at times
think themselves forsaken of
him
and their enemies might conclude and say they were
and yet this was not
their case
Isaiah 49:14; and though
they may be forsaken by him for a while
yet not utterly; he will not leave
them and forsake them for ever
Isaiah 54:7;
nor his seed begging bread; they being righteous
also
which must be supposed; otherwise
as good men have wicked children
these
through their wickedness
may come to poverty
to beggary
as they
sometimes do; though a distinction may be made between being poor and beggars;
the seed of the righteous may be the one
and not the other: besides
there is
a difference between asking bread of others
in some few instances
and
constantly begging bread from door to door
in which last sense the psalmist
must be understood here; for otherwise he himself in some cases
had asked
bread
as of Ahimelech at Nob
and of Nabal
&c. as did also Elijah of the
widow of Sarepta: and though there might have been instances of some of the
posterity of the righteous who got their bread by begging at the door
as in
the case of Lazarus; yet David had never observed any such instance during the
time of his life
which shows that such instances are very rare; whereas among
wicked men and their offspring the case is frequent and common. Again
it may
be observed
that the psalmist is speaking in the context of righteous men that
are liberal
and give to the poor freely and largely; and it is seldom if ever
known that they or their children come to want and poverty. Once more
the word
"forsaken" may be repeated in this clause
thus; "nor his seed
begging bread forsaken"F24"Justum non vidi derelictum
et
semen justi quaerens panem non vidi derelictum"; so Hopfnerus
Titelmannus
Lorinus
Franzius apud Gejerum; "frustra quaerens panem
et
finalitur destitutum"
Michaelis. ; or seeking it in vain
and finally
destitute of it; though they have been so reduced as to beg their bread
they
have not been forsaken; they have find it
bread sufficient to support life
as
Apollinarius paraphrases it; their bread has been given and their water sure;
see Isaiah 41:17. In an
ancient MidrashF25Vajikra Rabba
s. 35. fol. 175. 2.
or exposition
of the Jews
the sense is thus given:
"although
his seed and his sons are begging bread
yet I have not seen the righteous man
their father
forsaken
because of his fear of the blessed God.'
Psalm 37:26 26 He is
ever merciful
and lends; And his descendants are blessed.
YLT
26All the day he is gracious
and lending
And his seed [is] for a blessing.
He is ever merciful
and lendeth
.... He sympathizes with the poor in distress
and shows mercy to
miserable objects; not only by words
but deeds: and this is his constant
disposition and conduct; of which his lending
as well as giving to persons in
necessity
is an instance; and which shows capacity
and is a proof of the
observation of the psalmist
that such are never forsaken
nor left to beg
their bread: so far from it
that they have to lend and give to others;
and his seed is blessed; either his seed sown
his alms deeds
which are blessed to him and his
and to them to whom he
ministers
as Jarchi explains it; see 2 Corinthians 9:6;
or rather his offspring
who are blessed of God with things temporal for his
sake; and are blessed by men
who say of them
these are the posterity of such
and such liberal persons.
Psalm 37:27 27 Depart from evil
and do
good; And dwell forevermore.
YLT
27Turn aside from evil
and
do good
and dwell to the age.
Depart from evil
and do good
.... Depart from
evildoers
and their evil ways; join not with them
nor fret and be envious at
them; but do acts of beneficence
and all good works; since righteous men
and
their seed
are not forsaken
but blessed of God; See Gill on Psalm 34:14;
and dwell for evermore; or "thou shalt
dwell for evermore"F26ושכן לעולם "et habitabis in seculum"
Pagninus
Vatablus
Piscator; so Aben Ezra & Kimchi. ; see Psalm 37:3; that
is
in everlasting habitations
in the house not made with hands
eternal in
the heavens
Luke 16:9. The
Targum is
"that thou mayest dwell in everlasting life".
Psalm 37:28 28 For the Lord loves justice
And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever
But the
descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
YLT
28For 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.
For the Lord loveth judgment
.... Righteousness
or
righteous actions
when done according to his will
from love
in faith
and to
his glory; see Psalm 11:7; or to
minister judgment to the people
and to render to every man according to his
works;
and forsaketh not his saints; his Holy Ones
who are
called with an holy calling
are created in righteousness and true holiness
and have principles of grace and holiness wrought in them; or whom he
prosecutes with his favour and goodness
with his everlasting love and mercy
with spiritual blessings
with the blessings of justification
pardon
adoption
and a right to eternal life: these he never forsakes
not their
persons
neither in life nor at death
nor at judgment; nor does he ever
forsake the work of his own hands in them; but performs it until the day of
Christ: nor will he ever so forsake them
as that they shall perish through the
strength of sin
the temptations of Satan
or the snares of the world;
they are preserved for ever; from the dominion and
damning power of sin
from being devoured by Satan
from a total and final
falling away
and from being hurt of the second death: they are preserved in
Christ
in whose hands they are; and by the power of God
safe to his kingdom
and glory
into which they shall have an abundant entrance;
but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off; out of the
earth
in the midst of their days
like withered branches; and be cast into
everlasting burnings.
Psalm 37:29 29 The righteous shall
inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.
YLT
29The righteous possess the
land
And they dwell for ever on it.
The righteous shall inherit the land
.... See Gill
on Psalm 37:9 and See
Gill on Psalm 37:11;
and dwell therein for ever; See Gill on Psalm 37:27.
Psalm 37:30 30 The mouth of the righteous
speaks wisdom
And his tongue talks of justice.
YLT
30The mouth of the righteous
uttereth wisdom
And his tongue speaketh judgment.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom
.... Or
"meditateth wisdom"F1יהגה μελετησει
Sept. "meditabitur"
V. L. so Musculus: Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator
Michaelis. ; that is
utters the wisdom he has been
meditating upon; see Psalm 69:3; he
meditates and speaks of the wisdom of God
which appears in the works of
creation
providence
and grace; and of Christ
who is wisdom itself
and the
wisdom of God essentially; and who
as Mediator
has the spirit of wisdom
resting on him
the treasures of wisdom hid in him
and is made wisdom to his
people: and righteous men meditate upon and speak of the glories of his person
the fulness of his grace
and the works of his hands; as also of the Gospel
which is the wisdom of God
mysterious
hidden
ancient wisdom
ordained before
the world for their glory; and likewise of that internal wisdom
and experience
of divine grace
the Lord has made them to know in the hidden part; which lies
in the knowledge of themselves
and in a spiritual
experimental
and saving
knowledge of Christ
and the way of salvation by him; and his mouth delivers
out wise sayings
and useful instructions
fetched out of the word of God
and
founded on experience and observation;
and his tongue talketh of judgment; of the judgment which
the righteous God ordinarily ministers in a providential way; and of his
extraordinary and awful judgments
which have been or are in the earth; these
he takes notice of for his own use
and observes them to others for their
instruction; and also of the last judgment
the judgment to come
which he
speaks of as sure and certain
as universal and inevitable
and at which he
must appear before God: and he talks of judgment or righteousness; that is
of
the righteousness of Christ; he makes mention of this only as his justifying
righteousness before God; he rejoices and glories in it
and desires to be
found in it living and dying
and at judgment; and whatsoever things are
honest
just
pure
and of good report
he thinks and speaks of them
and
instructs his family
his children and servants
in them
that they may do
them; see Genesis 18:19.
Psalm 37:31 31 The law of his God is
in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.
YLT
31The law of his God [is] his
heart
His steps do not slide.
The law of his God is in his heart
.... Which may
be understood of the moral law
which was written in the heart of Adam an his
creation
and continued there during his state of innocence
but was greatly
obliterated by sin: there are some remains of it in fallen man
even in the
very Gentiles; who
though without the law
do some things contained in it
which shows the work of it to be written in them; though in some it is scarcely
legible
having lost all distinction between good and evil: but in regeneration
the law of God is reinscribed
according to the promise of the covenant of
grace
Jeremiah 31:33; and
such have a real knowledge of the spirituality and perfection of it; of the
impossibility of justification by it; and of Christ being the fulfilling end of
it: and they have a strong affection for it; they love it; and delight in it
after the inward man
and serve it with their minds; in which lies part of
their conformity to Christ
and is a branch of their character as good men; see
Psalm 40:8;
moreover
the word תורת
here used
signifies any
doctrine or instruction
and is sometimes used for the doctrine of the Gospel
Isaiah 2:3
and may
have this sense here
and the meaning be
that that has a place in the hearts
or righteous men
dwells richly there
and works effectually in them; and
particularly the doctrine of grace which relates to covenant interest in God;
for it is the law or doctrine of "his God" that is in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide; not that he shall never
slip nor fall; for that is supposed Psalm 37:24; but he
shall never finally and totally go out of the paths of truth
holiness
and
righteousness: the Lord keeps the feet of his saints
and orders their steps
and directs them in the way they should go
and preserves them in it; and
enables them to walk uprightly
according to the rule of the divine word
and
in all his commandments and ordinances; and to hold on and out unto the end: or
the clause may be rendered
"it"
the law
"shall not cause his
steps to slide"F2תמעד אשריו "non vacillat gressus ejus"
Cocceius. ;
neither the law of God
nor the Gospel of Christ
but shall guide him in the
right way
and be a lamp unto his feet
and a light unto his path.
Psalm 37:32 32 The wicked watches the
righteous
And seeks to slay him.
YLT
32The wicked is watching for
the righteous
And is seeking to put him to death.
The wicked watcheth the righteous
.... All his motions and
steps
his works and actions; he watches for his halting
and to take all
opportunities and advantages against him; see Jeremiah 20:10;
and seeketh to slay him; murder his reputation
destroy his substance
and take away his life: some understand it of the devil
who watches the saints
observes their failings
accuses then
before the
throne
and seeks to devour them
1 Peter 5:8.
Psalm 37:33 33 The Lord will not leave
him in his hand
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
YLT
33Jehovah doth not leave him
in his hand
Nor condemn him in his being judged.
The Lord will not leave him in his hand
.... Or power;
but will in his own time deliver him from all the reproach
affliction
and
persecution endures by him; as he will also deliver him out of all the
temptations of Satan;
nor condemn him when he is judged; by the wicked man: he
will not join in the sentence
but reverse it
and condemn the tongue that
rises up in judgment against him
and save him from him; see Psalm 109:31; nor
will the Lord condemn him when he is judged by him at the hast judgment; but
will acquit him before men and angels
and introduce him into his kingdom and
glory.
Psalm 37:34 34 Wait on the Lord
And keep His
way
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off
you shall see it.
YLT
34Look unto Jehovah
and keep
His way
And He doth exalt thee to possess the land
In the wicked being cut
off -- thou seest!
Wait on the Lord
.... In the way of his appointments and
ordinances; where may be learned the design of his providences
and of the
prosperity of the wicked
and their end
Psalm 73:16; and in
a providential way
for the performance of his promises
in which he never
fails; and patiently bear whatever he is pleased to lay upon them; waiting for
a deliverance out of every affliction
which will be in his own time. The
Chaldee paraphrase
"trust
in the word of the Lord;'
and keep his way: which he has pointed out in his word
and
has directed his people to walk in; though tempted by Satan to turn aside to
the right hand or the left; though wicked men reproach
persecute
and seek to
pervert it; and though a narrow and rough way
yet keep constantly in it
in
which there are both pleasure and profit; good comes of it
and in it peace is
had
and the presence of God enjoyed;
and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: that is
shall raise out of a low and uncomfortable situation of life to a more
comfortable one; or however
hereafter
to dwell in the new heavens and new earth
to reign with Christ upon his throne
and to enjoy the eternal inheritance;
when the wicked are cut off; as in Psalm 37:9;
thou shall see it; with joy and pleasure;
not as exulting: in the destruction of the wicked
simply considered; but as
the glory of divine justice is displayed therein; see Psalm 52:5.
Psalm 37:35 35 I have seen the wicked in
great power
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
YLT
35I have seen the wicked
terrible
And spreading as a green native plant
I have seen the wicked in great power
.... Meaning
some particular person invested with great power
in great authority among men
one of the spiritual wickednesses in high places; such a man as Haman in
Ahasuerus's court; and though the psalmist does not choose to mention his name
he doubtless had him in his mind; as either Saul
or Doeg the Edomite
or
Ahithophel
or some such man
who was in an exalted station of life; and it may
be when he himself was in low and distressed circumstances: the word usedF3עדיץ "terrificam"
Montanus
Vatablus;
"terribilem ant formidabilem"
Gejerus
Michaelis; "daunting
terrible"
Ainsworth. signifies one formidable and terrible
striking
terror to all around; of whom others are afraid
as Aben Ezra interprets it
Isaiah 29:20;
and spreading himself like a green bay tree: or like one
that grows up out of the earth of itself
and is in its native soil
and very
flourishing: and the metaphor denotes an increase of riches and honour
and a
seemingly settled state in the enjoyment of such outward felicity; so Jarchi
interprets it משריש
"taking root"; as well
as such a man's glorying in and boasting of his affluence and fulness; see Psalm 73:12. Aben
Ezra explains it of a wicked man's openly committing iniquity
declaring his
sin as Sodom
and glorying in his shame; but rather it denotes a man in great
authority and esteem
as a man crowned with laurels
and in a very exalted and
triumphant state.
Psalm 37:36 36 Yet he passed away
[a] and
behold
he was no more; Indeed I sought him
but he could not be
found.
YLT
36And he passeth away
and
lo
he is not
And I seek him
and he is not found!
Yet he passed away
.... At once
on a sudden; either his riches
and honour
which
in one hour
came to nought
by one providence or another;
or he himself by death; in the midst of all his prosperity
and while blessing
himself in it
his soul was required of him; and so the Targum is
"he
ceased from the world"; he went out of it unawares: the laurel
or bay
tree
very quickly grows oldF4"Senescit velociter"
Plin.
Nat. Hist. l. 16. c. 44. ;
and
lo
he was not; he was not reduced to
nothing; he did not become a nonentity
though he might wish himself to be so;
it being better for him if he had never been born; but he was not in the land
of the living
in hell he lifted up his eyes;
yea
I sought him
but he could not be found; in the place
where he formerly was
that knowing him no more; he could not be found on
earth
from whence he was gone; nor in heaven
where no place is found for such
wicked men; he was gone to his own place
as is said of Judas
and of whom
Jerom interprets the whole of this passage.
Psalm 37:37 37 Mark the blameless man
and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
YLT
37Observe the perfect
and
see the upright
For the latter end of each [is] peace.
Mark the perfect man
.... None are so in
themselves
not the most holy man upon earth; for though all grace is implanted
at once in regeneration
the seed of grace of every kind is cast into the heart
at once; yet it opens and spreads
and gradually increases; nor is any grace in
its exercise perfect; not faith
nor hope
nor love: sin is in the best of men
and all stand in need of fresh supplies of grace. None of the saints ever
affirmed that they had arrived to perfection
but have disclaimed it: one saint
may indeed attain to a greater degree of grace and knowledge than another
and
in a comparative sense be perfect; and there is a perfection of parts
though
not of degrees
in all; the new man is formed in all its parts
though these
are not grown to their full perfection: and whereas perfection often denotes
truth and sincerity
such may be said to be perfect
that is
sincere
who have
received the grace of God in truth
have the
truth and root of the matter in
them; so Noah
Job
and others
are said to be perfect men; but not simply and
absolutely in themselves
but as in Christ Jesus; who has obtained complete
redemption
perfectly fulfilled the law for them
fully expiated their sins
procured the entire pardon of them
and brought in an everlasting
righteousness
by which they are justified from all sin
and are perfectly
comely
and a perfection of beauty
through the comeliness of Christ put upon
them;
and behold the upright; the man that is upright
in heart and conversation
who has a right spirit renewed in him
and the
uprightness of Christ showed unto him; or
in other words
who has the truth of
grace within him
and the righteousness of Christ upon him: such men are to be
marked
observed
viewed
and considered
as rare and uncommon men; and to be
imitated and followed in the exercise of grace and discharge of duty; and
especially the end of such persons is to be marked and beheld
as follows;
for the end of that man is peace: such a man
now enjoys a conscience peace
which passes the understanding of worldly men;
and which he possesses in Christ
and from him
amidst a variety of
tribulations
arising from a view of interest in his blood and righteousness;
and
generally speaking
goes off the stage of life
if not triumphing
yet
resigned to the will of God
and in a serene and tranquil frame of spirit
and
even desiring to be gone
and to be with Christ
and to have leave
with good
old Simeon
to depart in peace; and as soon as they are departed they enter
into peace
into the joy of their Lord
into his presence
where is fulness of
joy
and pleasures for evermore; see Numbers 23:10.
Psalm 37:38 38 But the transgressors
shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
YLT
38And transgressors were
destroyed together
The latter end of the wicked was cut off.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together
.... This is
to be understood of obstinate and continued transgressors
who live and die in
their transgressions; see Proverbs 11:3;
otherwise all men are transgressors in Adam
and sinned and fell with him in
his transgression; and are justly called transgressors from the womb; and are
guilty of actual transgressions
nor are any clear from them; and are
arraigned
convinced
and judged by the law as transgressors; and for many of
these Christ died
and makes intercession; and who are converted
and turned
from their transgressions; and these are pardoned
and saved
and not
destroyed: but stubborn and perverse transgressors are destroyed; not only with
a temporal destruction of their substance
and of their names
and they
themselves are rooted out of the earth; but with an everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord
and the glory of his power; for this seems to
refer to the day of judgment
when all the wicked will be "together";
and shall in a body stand at Christ's left hand
and be bid to go
"ye
cursed into everlasting fire"
Matthew 25:41
and
shall be turned into hell at once
and together;
the end of the wicked shall be cut off; meaning
either their posterity
as the word is rendered in Psalm 109:13; or
their hope and expectation of good things here and hereafter; when the
righteous man receives the end of his faith
hope
and expectation
even the
salvation of his soul; but these shall be disappointed and frustrated of their
end; see Proverbs 23:18; or
their last end is cutting off from the presence and sight of God
utter ruin
and destruction; and so it stands opposed to the end of the perfect and upright
man
which is eternal peace and happiness.
Psalm 37:39 39 But the salvation of the
righteous is from the Lord; He is their
strength in the time of trouble.
YLT
39And the salvation of the
righteous [is] from Jehovah
Their strong place in a time of adversity.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord
.... Both
their temporal
spiritual
and eternal salvation; particularly the latter
which is originally of the Lord
and springs from the thoughts
purposes
and
resolutions of his heart: it is of him freely
of his rich grace and abundant
mercy; and it is of him fully and completely; it is an entire salvation of soul
and body; includes all blessings of grace and glory in it; it is to the
uttermost
and from all sin
and every enemy; and it is of him only; there is
no salvation in any other; and the glory of it is to be ascribed to him
even
to Jehovah
Father
Son
and Spirit; for all the three divine Persons have a
concern in it: the determination
contrivance
and settlement of it
is of
Jehovah the Father; the impetration or effecting of it is of Jehovah the Son;
and the application of it is of Jehovah the Spirit; See Gill on Psalm 3:8;
he is their strength
in the time of trouble; by reason of the hidings of God's face
the temptations of
Satan
the prevalence of corruptions
the weakness of grace
and the many
afflictions that befall them from God and men; the Lord he is their strong hold
and munition of rocks
whither they
betake themselves
and find help
protection
and safety; he puts underneath everlasting arms
bears them up
and
upholds them with the right hand of his righteousness; and is the strength of
their hearts
of their lives
and of their salvation.
Psalm 37:40 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.
YLT
40And Jehovah doth help them
and deliver them
He delivereth them from the wicked
And saveth them
Because
they trusted in Him!
And the Lord shall help them
.... In their distress
and out of their troubles
when none else can
and they themselves cannot; and
that seasonably
and sometimes with means
and sometimes without;
and deliver them; out of all their afflictions
which he does
sooner or later; if not in life
yet at death;
he shall deliver them from the wicked; this is
repeated both for confirmation and explanation sake
showing who they are the
Lord will deliver his people from
even from wicked and unreasonable men; he
will not leave them in their hands now to do with them as they shall think fit;
and he will free them from them to all eternity in the other world
where they
shall cease from giving them any trouble;
and save them
because they trust in him; not that
there is any saving virtue in faith
or in trusting in the Lord; the saving
virtue is in the Lord
the object of faith and trust; but inasmuch as the Lord
has appointed salvation to be through faith
or has made that the means of
receiving and enjoying salvation
and the blessings of it
and has declared
that he that believeth shall be saved
he does accordingly save all such
persons; wherefore blessed are they that trust in him. The Chaldee paraphrase
is
"he
shall redeem them because they trust in his Word.'
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)