Psalm 37 Emotional
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Psalm 37/Emotional
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They will soon wither
Psalm 37
Emotional Analysis
This layer explores the emotional dimension of the biblical text and seeks to uncover the clues within the text itself that are part of the communicative intent of its author. The goal of this analysis is to chart the basic emotional tone and/or progression of the psalm.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Emotional Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Emotional Analysis Chart
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) | The Psalmist Feels | Emotional Analysis Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ss | לְדָוִד | By David. | ||
| 1 | אַל־תִּתְחַר בַּמְּרֵעִים | Do not get upset about those who act wickedly; | confident, composed, calm, contemplative, solemn, hopeful | The speaker is nowhere explicit about his emotional attitude, and, in general, given the didactic and hortatory nature of the discourse (cf. Ps 34:12-23), the psalm is relatively flat in terms of emotions—there is not a dynamic range of emotions or an emotional movement that progresses throughout the psalm. Nevertheless, because the speaker presents himself as an authoritative teacher for the addressee to learn from and (presumably) emulate, we can assume that the speaker embodies the attitude which he summons the addressee to adopt. The speaker is the opposite of "upset" (vv. 1, 7-8). Instead, he is calm and composed, still, patient, and hopeful (cf. vv. 7, 34). He is "confident" in YHWH (vv. 3-5), and his confidence is most clearly perceived in his description of the destruction of the wicked as imminent (cf. v. 10) and as an event that is as good as done (cf. vv. 20, 28, 38). In general, the speaker's emotional state is high in positiveness and low in activation—the opposite of the addressee's emotional state, which is highly negative and active (i.e., "upset," "envious," cf. vv. 1, 7-8). |
| אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בְּעֹשֵׂי עַוְלָֽה׃ | Do not be jealous of those who do wrong. | |||
| 2 | כִּי כֶחָצִיר מְהֵרָה יִמָּלוּ | For they will soon wither like grass, | Confident that the destruction of the wicked will be soon | |
| וּכְיֶרֶק דֶּשֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ | and they will fade like green leaves on plants. | |||
| 3 | בְּטַח בַּֽיהוָה | Trust in YHWH | ||
| וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב | and do good! | |||
| שְׁכָן־אֶרֶץ | Reside in the land | |||
| וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ | and graze securely! | Hopeful about the security YHWH's people will one day experience | ||
| 4 | וְהִתְעַנַּג עַל־יְהוָה | And then you will delight yourself in YHWH, | ||
| וְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ מִשְׁאֲלֹת לִבֶּֽךָ׃ | and he will give you your heart's desires. | |||
| 5 | גּוֹל עַל־יְהוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ | Commit your way to YHWH, | ||
| וּבְטַח עָלָיו | and trust in him, | |||
| וְהוּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ | and he will act, | |||
| 6 | וְהוֹצִיא כָאוֹר צִדְקֶךָ | and he will make your righteousness known like the light, | ||
| וּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ | and [he will make] your justice [known] like midday. | |||
| 7 | דּוֹם׀ לַיהוָה | Be silent before YHWH | ||
| וְהִתְחוֹלֵל לוֹ | and wait for him! | |||
| אַל־תִּתְחַר בְּמַצְלִיחַ דַּרְכּוֹ בְּאִישׁ עֹשֶׂה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ | Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful, at a person carrying out schemes. | Contempt towards those who scheme (though not at all upset about them) | The word "schemes" expresses the psalmist's negative attitudes toward the wicked (cf. SDBH). Whereas the addressee looks up at the wicked with jealousy and anger, the psalmist looks down at the wicked with disdain and laughter. | |
| 8 | הֶרֶף מֵאַף | Let go of anger | ||
| וַעֲזֹב חֵמָה | and leave wrath behind! | |||
| אַל־תִּתְחַר אַךְ־לְהָרֵעַ | Do not get upset only to act wickedly! | |||
| 9 | כִּֽי־מְרֵעִים יִכָּרֵתוּן | For those who act wickedly will be destroyed; | ||
| וְקֹוֵי יְהוָה הֵמָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃ | but those who hope in YHWH—they will possess the land. | |||
| 10 | וְעוֹד מְעַט | And just a little bit longer, | Confident that the time after which the wicked will be gone is just a little bit | |
| וְאֵין רָשָׁע | and the wicked person will be gone; | |||
| וְהִתְבּוֹנַנְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמוֹ | And you will look closely at the place where he was, | |||
| וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ | and he will not be there. | |||
| 11 | וַעֲנָוִים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָרֶץ | But the humble will possess the land | ||
| וְהִתְעַנְּגוּ עַל־רֹב שָׁלֽוֹם׃ | and delight themselves in great prosperity. | |||
| 12 | זֹמֵם רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק | The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person | ||
| וְחֹרֵק עָלָיו שִׁנָּֽיו׃ | and grinding his teeth at him. | |||
| 13 | אֲדֹנָי יִשְׂחַק־לוֹ | The Lord laughs at him, | Contempt towards the wicked, expressed by laughter | If we assume that the speaker adopts the Lord's perspective, then would express an attitude of contempt and mockery towards the wicked. |
| כִּֽי־רָאָה כִּֽי־יָבֹא יוֹמֽוֹ׃ | because he sees that his time will come. | |||
| 14 | חֶרֶב׀ פָּֽתְחוּ רְשָׁעִים | The wicked have drawn swords | ||
| וְדָרְכוּ קַשְׁתָּם | and strung their bows | |||
| לְהַפִּיל עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן | in order to bring down the one who is afflicted and poor, | |||
| לִטְבוֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃ | in order to slaughter those whose conduct is upright. | |||
| 15 | חַרְבָּם תָּבוֹא בְלִבָּם | Their swords will go into their hearts, | ||
| וְקַשְּׁתוֹתָם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ | and their bows will be broken. | |||
| 16 | טוֹב־מְעַט לַצַּדִּיק מֵהֲמוֹן רְשָׁעִים רַבִּֽים׃ | A little belonging to the righteous person is better than the abundance of many wicked people. | ||
| 17 | כִּי זְרוֹעוֹת רְשָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַרְנָה | For the arms of the wicked will be broken, | ||
| וְסוֹמֵךְ צַדִּיקִים יְהוָֽה׃ | but YHWH is upholding the righteous. | |||
| 18 | יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה יְמֵי תְמִימִם | YHWH knows the days of the blameless, | ||
| וְנַחֲלָתָם לְעוֹלָם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ | and their inheritance will be forever. | |||
| 19 | לֹֽא־יֵבֹשׁוּ בְּעֵת רָעָה | They will not come to shame during hard times, | ||
| וּבִימֵי רְעָבוֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ | and they will eat their fill during times of famine. | |||
| 20 | כִּי רְשָׁעִים׀ יֹאבֵדוּ | For the wicked will perish, | ||
| וְאֹיְבֵי יְהוָה כִּיקַר כָּרִים | and YHWH's enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture. | |||
| כָּלוּ בֶעָשָׁן | They are finished like smoke! | Confident that the wicked will be finished. | By using qatal verb to describe future events as though they have already happened, the psalmist expresses confidence. | |
| כָּֽלוּ׃ | They are finished! | Confident that the wicked will be finished. | By using qatal verb to describe future events as though they have already happened, the psalmist expresses confidence. | |
| 21 | לֹוֶה רָשָׁע | The wicked person is borrowing | ||
| וְלֹא יְשַׁלֵּם | and will not repay, | |||
| וְצַדִּיק חוֹנֵן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ | but the righteous person is giving generously. | |||
| 22 | כִּי מְבֹרָכָיו יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ | For those blessed by him will possess the land, | ||
| וּמְקֻלָּלָיו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ | and those cursed by him will be destroyed. | |||
| 23 | מֵיְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ | When a person's steps are made steadfast by YHWH, | ||
| וְדַרְכּוֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ | then he will be pleased with his way. | |||
| 24 | כִּֽי־יִפֹּל | When he falls, | ||
| לֹֽא־יוּטָל | he will not fall flat. | |||
| כִּֽי־יְהוָה סוֹמֵךְ יָדֽוֹ׃ | because YHWH is supporting his hand. | |||
| 25 | נַעַר׀ הָיִיתִי | I was once a young man; | ||
| גַּם־זָקַנְתִּי | and now I am old, | |||
| וְֽלֹא־רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק נֶעֱזָב וְזַרְעוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃ | and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned or his children looking for food. | |||
| 26 | כָּל־הַיּוֹם חוֹנֵן וּמַלְוֶה | He is always lending generously, | ||
| וְזַרְעוֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃ | and his children will become a blessing. | |||
| 27 | סוּר מֵרָע | Turn away from evil | ||
| וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב | and do good, | |||
| וּשְׁכֹן לְעוֹלָֽם׃ | and you will reside forever! | |||
| 28a* | כִּי יְהוָה׀ אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט | For YHWH loves justice, | ||
| 28b* | וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹב אֶת־חֲסִידָיו | and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him. | ||
| 30* | פִּֽי־צַדִּיק יֶהְגֶּה חָכְמָה | A righteous person's mouth utters what is wise, | ||
| וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ תְּדַבֵּר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ | and his tongue speaks what is just. | |||
| 31* | תּוֹרַת אֱלֹהָיו בְּלִבּוֹ | The instruction of his God is in his heart. | ||
| לֹא תִמְעַד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ | His steps will not slip. | |||
| 28b* | *עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ* | Wrong-doers are exterminated, | Confident that the wicked will be exterminated. | By using qatal verb to describe future events as though they have already happened, the psalmist expresses confidence. |
| וְזֶרַע רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽת׃ | and the children of the wicked are destroyed! | Confident that the children of the wicked will be destroyed. | By using qatal verb to describe future events as though they have already happened, the psalmist expresses confidence. | |
| 29* | צַדִּיקִים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָרֶץ | The righteous will possess the land | ||
| וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶֽיהָ׃ | and reside on it forever. | Hopeful that the righteous will reside on the land forever (in contrast to the "little bit" of time during which they now suffer). | ||
| 32 | צוֹפֶה רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק | The wicked person is watching for the righteous person | ||
| וּמְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲמִיתוֹ׃ | and trying to kill him. | |||
| 33 | יְהוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶנּוּ בְיָדוֹ | YHWH will not abandon him into his hand, | ||
| וְלֹא יַרְשִׁיעֶנּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ | and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into judgment. | |||
| 34 | קַוֵּה אֶל־יְהוָה׀ | Hope in YHWH | ||
| וּשְׁמֹר דַּרְכּוֹ | and keep his way, | |||
| וִֽירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶשֶׁת אָרֶץ | and he will exalt you to possess the land. | |||
| בְּהִכָּרֵת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ | You will see when the wicked are destroyed. | |||
| 35 | רָאִיתִי רָשָׁע עָרִיץ | I once saw a ruthless wicked person, | ||
| וּמִתְעָרֶה כְּאֶזְרָח רַעֲנָֽן׃ | and he was ascending like a native tree. | |||
| 36 | וָאֶעֲבֹר | Then I passed by, | ||
| וְהִנֵּה אֵינֶנּוּ | and—get this!—he was gone; | Surprised at the complete disappearance of the wicked person | See macrosyntax on הִנֵּה | |
| וָֽאֲבַקְשֵׁהוּ | then I looked for him, | |||
| וְלֹא נִמְצָֽא׃ | and he was not found. | |||
| 37 | שְׁמָר־תָּם | Pay attention to the blameless one | ||
| וּרְאֵה יָשָׁר | and look at the upright one, | |||
| כִּֽי־אַחֲרִית לְאִישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ | because the future of a [blameless] person is peace. | |||
| 38 | וּֽפֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְדוּ יַחְדָּו | But those who rebel are completely exterminated! | Confident that the wicked will be completely exterminated. | By using qatal verb to describe future events as though they have already happened, the psalmist expresses confidence. |
| אַחֲרִית רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽתָה׃ | The future of the wicked is destroyed! | Confident that the wicked will have no future. | By using qatal verb to describe future events as though they have already happened, the psalmist expresses confidence. | |
| 39 | וּתְשׁוּעַת צַדִּיקִים מֵיְהוָה מָעוּזָּם בְּעֵת צָרָה | But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH, their fortress during times of trouble, | ||
| 40 | וַֽיַּעְזְרֵם יְהוָה | and YHWH helps them | ||
| וַֽיְפַלְּטֵם | and rescues them. | |||
| יְפַלְּטֵם מֵרְשָׁעִים | He will rescue them from the wicked | |||
| וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם | and save them, | |||
| כִּי־חָסוּ בֽוֹ׃ | because they have sought refuge in him. |
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