Do Not Envy the Wicked; Trust the Lord

Psalms 37:1 Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers! 37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants. 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! 37:4 Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers. 37:5 Commit your future to the Lord! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. 37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause. 37:7 Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes! 37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble! 37:9 Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land. 37:10 Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone. 37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity. 37:12 Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them. 37:13 The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming. 37:14 Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly. 37:15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men, 37:17 for evil men will lose their power, but the Lord sustains the godly. 37:18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance. 37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat. 37:20 But evil men will die; the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated – they will go up in smoke. 37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous. 37:22 Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out. 37:23 The Lord grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable. 37:24 Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand. 37:25 I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food. 37:26 All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed. 37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security. 37:28 For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out. 37:29 The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently. 37:30 The godly speak wise words and promote justice. 37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip. 37:32 Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them. 37:33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law. 37:34 Rely on the Lord! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men. 37:35 I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. 37:36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found. 37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! For the one who promotes peace has a future. 37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future. 37:39 But the Lord delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble. 37:40 The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek his protection. Psalm 38 A psalm of David, written to get God’s attention.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Psalm 37 tells God’s people not to fret when the wicked seem to prosper. They must trust the Lord, do what is right, wait patiently, and keep their integrity. The wicked may rise for a time, but they will pass away. The Lord sustains the righteous, watches over them, and will vindicate them in his time.

This psalm is wisdom instruction. It speaks in short commands and contrasts. It teaches the faithful how to live when evil people seem to be winning. The right response is not envy, anger, or revenge. It is trust in the Lord, obedience, patience, and steady good conduct.

The psalm says the wicked are temporary like grass that dries up. Their power will not last. By contrast, those who rely on the Lord are secure. God will sustain them, guide them, and publicly defend their cause. The psalm repeatedly says that the righteous will possess the land. In its original setting, this is covenant inheritance language in Israel, not a promise of easy wealth.

The psalm also calls God’s people to generosity, compassion, peace, and wisdom. The godly speak justice, avoid evil, and do not lose heart when trouble comes. The closing verses look back on a lifetime of observing God’s care. The psalmist says he has not seen the righteous abandoned. This is a seasoned testimony, not a denial that the faithful can suffer.

Psalm 37 therefore teaches God’s people to wait for his justice. The Lord sees the schemes of the wicked. He will act in his time. The righteous must keep trusting, keep doing good, and keep looking to him.

• Do not fret or envy when the wicked seem to succeed.
• Trust in the Lord and do what is right.
• Wait patiently for the Lord; do not let anger lead you into sin.
• The wicked are temporary, but the Lord sustains the righteous.
• The promise to “possess the land” is covenant inheritance language in Israel.
• God watches over the righteous and will vindicate them.
• The godly are called to compassion, generosity, justice, and peace.
• Trouble does not have the final word for those who seek the Lord.

• Warning: Do not envy evildoers or become agitated over their success.
• Warning: Anger and fretting can lead to trouble.
• Command: Trust in the Lord and do what is right.
• Command: Commit your future to the Lord and wait patiently for him.
• Command: Turn away from evil and obey his commands.
• Promise: The Lord will sustain the righteous and help them.
• Promise: God will vindicate his people and defend their cause.
• Promise: The righteous will possess the land and dwell securely.
• Promise: The wicked will pass away and have no lasting future.

Psalm 37 fits God’s covenant rule over his people. It shows that the Lord governs justice, sees evil, and sustains those who trust him. It also points forward in the Bible’s larger hope that the meek will inherit what God has promised, a theme later echoed in Jesus’ teaching.

When you see wicked people prosper, do not be jealous or bitter. Keep doing what is right. Trust God with your future. Be patient, generous, and peaceful. Remember that present success is not the same as lasting security. The Lord will act in his time.

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