Psalm 37
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers"
Manuscript of Psalm 37
Other name	Psalm 36 "Noli aemulari in malignantibus"
Text	by David
Language	Hebrew (original)

Psalm 37 is the 37th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 36. In Latin, it is known as Noli aemulari in malignantibus. ^[1] The psalm has the form of an acrostic Hebrew poem,^[2] and is thought to have been written by David in his old age.^[3]

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has inspired hymns based on it, and has been set to music, by Baroque composers such as Heinrich Schütz as well as romantic composers such as Anton Bruckner.

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text^[4]^[5] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃‎	[A Psalm] of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.
2	כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃‎	For they shall soon wither like the grass, and fade as the green herb.
3	בְּטַ֣ח בַּ֭יהֹוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב שְׁכׇן־אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃‎	Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and cherish faithfulness.
4	וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְיִֽתֶּן־לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃‎	So shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and He shall give thee the petitions of thy heart.
5	גּ֣וֹל עַל־יְהֹוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃‎	Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.
6	וְהוֹצִ֣יא כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ כַּֽצׇּהֳרָֽיִם׃‎	And He will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, and thy right as the noonday.
7	דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַיהֹוָה֮ וְהִתְח֢וֹלֵֽ֫ל ל֥וֹ אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃‎	Resign thyself unto the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8	הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃‎	Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing.
9	כִּֽי־מְ֭רֵעִים יִכָּרֵת֑וּן וְקֹוֵ֥י יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הֵ֣מָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃‎	For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait for the LORD, they shall inherit the land.
10	וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃‎	And yet a little while, and the wicked is no more; yea, thou shalt look well at his place, and he is not.
11	וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ וְ֝הִֽתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם׃‎	But the humble shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12	זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק וְחֹרֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו שִׁנָּֽיו׃‎	The wicked plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth at him with his teeth.
13	אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק־ל֑וֹ כִּי־רָ֝אָ֗ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א יוֹמֽוֹ׃‎	The Lord doth laugh at him; for He seeth that his day is coming
14	חֶ֤רֶב ׀ פָּ֥תְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ וְדָרְכ֢וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃‎	The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow; to cast down the poor and needy, to slay such as are upright in the way;
15	חַ֭רְבָּם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם וְ֝קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֗ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃‎	Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16	טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃‎	Better is a little that the righteous hath than the abundance of many wicked.
17	כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהֹוָֽה׃‎	For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18	יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הֹוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם לְעוֹלָ֥ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃‎	The LORD knoweth the days of them that are wholehearted; and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19	לֹֽא־יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָ֑ה וּבִימֵ֖י רְעָב֣וֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃‎	They shall not be ashamed in the time of evil; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20	כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ יֹאבֵ֗דוּ וְאֹיְבֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה כִּיקַ֣ר כָּרִ֑ים כָּל֖וּ בֶעָשָׁ֣ן כָּֽלוּ׃‎	For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs— They shall pass away in smoke, they shall pass away.
21	לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃‎	The wicked borroweth, and payeth not; but the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.
22	כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃‎	For such as are blessed of Him shall inherit the land; and they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off.
23	מֵ֭יְהֹוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כּוֹנָ֗נוּ וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃‎	It is of the LORD that a man's goings are established; and He delighted in his way.
24	כִּֽי־יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא־יוּטָ֑ל כִּֽי־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ׃‎	Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholdeth his hand.
25	נַ֤עַר ׀ הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם־זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי וְֽלֹא־רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃‎	I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26	כׇּל־הַ֭יּוֹם חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃‎	All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27	ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֗וֹב וּשְׁכֹ֥ן לְעוֹלָֽם׃‎	Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28	כִּ֤י יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב מִשְׁפָּ֗ט וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־חֲ֭סִידָיו לְעוֹלָ֣ם נִשְׁמָ֑רוּ וְזֶ֖רַע רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽת׃‎	For the LORD loveth justice, And forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29	צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃‎	The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30	פִּֽי־צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חׇכְמָ֑ה וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃‎	The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh justice.
31	תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָֽיו׃‎	The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps slide.
32	צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃‎	The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33	יְ֭הֹוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ בְיָד֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃‎	The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor suffer him to be condemned when he is judged.
34	קַוֵּ֤ה אֶל־יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ וּשְׁמֹ֬ר דַּרְכּ֗וֹ וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אָ֑רֶץ בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃‎	Wait for the LORD, and keep His way, and He will exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35	רָ֭אִיתִי רָשָׁ֣ע עָרִ֑יץ וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃‎	I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a leafy tree in its native soil.
36	וַֽ֭יַּעֲבֹר וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וָ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃‎	But one passed by, and, lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37	שְׁמׇר־תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר כִּֽי־אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃‎	Mark the man of integrity, and behold the upright; for there is a future for the man of peace.
38	וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה׃‎	But transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39	וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת צַ֭דִּיקִים מֵיְהֹוָ֑ה מָ֝עוּזָּ֗ם בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָֽה׃‎	But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40	וַ֥יַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהֹוָ֗ה וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם כִּי־חָ֥סוּ בֽוֹ׃‎	And the LORD helpeth them, and delivereth them; He delivereth them from the wicked, and saveth them, because they have taken refuge in Him.

King James Version

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Interpretation

Psalm 37 is a response to the problem of evil, which the Old Testament often expresses as a question: why do the wicked prosper and the good suffer? In the New American Bible, Revised Edition, published by the Catholic Church in the USA, the psalm answers that this situation is only temporary: God will reverse things, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked here on earth.^[2] This interpretation is shared by Protestants. Matthew Henry calls it David's call to patience and confidence in God by the state of the godly and the wicked.^[6] Charles Spurgeon calls it "the great riddle of the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous".^[3]

It is written as an acrostic and divided into discrete sections. Each section ends with God's resolution of the question.^[3]

The psalm has also been understood as a prayer of the persecuted who has taken refuge in the temple or figuratively of refuge in God. The psalm concludes with a plea to God for those who honor him, to bless them with his justice and to protect them from the snares of the wicked.^[7]

The theme of inheriting the land reoccurs five times in this Psalm (in verses 9, 11, 22, 29 and 34). Prior to this in Psalm 25:13 the rich as also said to inherit the land as well. Albert Barnes also compares the wicked being cut off in psalm 37:2 and 10 with the wicked being cut off in Psalm 73:27.^[8]

Uses

Judaism

Verse 21 is found in Pirkei Avot Chapter 2, no. 14.^[9]
Verse 25 is part of the final paragraph of Birkat Hamazon.^[10]

New Testament

The Beatitudes in the New Testament are influenced by this psalm.^[11] Verse 11 was cited by Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:5. The original reads,

But the meek shall inherit the earth;

and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.^[12]

Islam

Psalm 37:29 "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever" is referenced in the Qur'an:^[13]

Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): "My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth."
— Qur'an, sura 21 (Al-Anbiya), ayah 105.^[14]

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the seventh day of the month.^[15]

Musical settings

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a paraphrase of Psalm 37 in German, "Erzürn dich nicht so sehre", SWV 134, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628. Verses 30–31 in Latin were set by Anton Bruckner as "Os Justi" in 1879. British composer Clara Ross (1858-1954) used Psalm 37 as the text for her song “Fret Not Thyself.”^[16]