Psalms 37:9-29

9 For the evil-doers will be cut off: but those who have faith in the Lord will have the earth for their heritage.

10 For in a short time the evil-doer will be gone: you will go searching for his place, and it will not be there.

11 But the gentle will have the earth for their heritage; they will take their delight in peace without measure.

12 The sinner has evil designs against the upright, lifting up the voice of wrath against him.

13 He will be laughed at by the Lord, who sees that his day is coming.

14 The evil-doers have taken out their swords, their bows are bent; for crushing the poor, and to put to death those who are upright in their ways.

15 But their swords will be turned into their hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16 The little which the good man has is better than the wealth of evil-doers.

17 For the arms of the evil-doers will be broken: but the Lord is the support of the good.

18 The days of the upright are numbered by the Lord, and their heritage will be for ever.

19 They will not be shamed in the evil time, and in the days when all are in need of food they will have enough.

20 But the wrongdoers will come to destruction, and the haters of the Lord will be like the fat of lambs, they will be burned up; they will go up in smoke, and never again be seen.

21 The sinner takes money and does not give it back; but the upright man has mercy, and gives to others.

22 Those who have his blessing will have the earth for their heritage; but those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight in his way.

24 Even if he has a fall he will not be without help: for the hand of the Lord is supporting him.

25 I have been young, and now am old, but I have not seen the good man without help, or his children looking for bread.

26 All the day he is ready to have mercy and to give; his children are a blessing.

27 Be turned from evil, and do good; and your place will be for ever.

28 For the Lord is a lover of righteousness, and takes care of his saints; they will be kept safe for ever; but the seed of the evil-doers will be cut off.

29 The upright will have the earth for their heritage, and will go on living there for ever.

Psalms 37:9-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 37

\\<<[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 writer {h} thinks it was written for Mephibosheth's consolation under Ziba's calumny. {h} Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 2. p. 219.