Psalm 37 Text

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Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Hebrew Verse Close-but-clear
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ 1a By David.
אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים 1b Do not get upset about those who act wickedly;
אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃ 1c Do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ 2a For they will soon wither like grass,
וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ 2b and they will fade like green leaves on plants.
בְּטַ֣ח בַּֽ֭יהוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב 3a Trust in YHWH and do good!
שְׁכָן־אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ 3b Reside in the land and graze securely!
וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל־יְהוָ֑ה 4a And then you will delight yourself in YHWH,
וְיִֽתֶּן־לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃ 4b and he will give you your heart’s desires.
גּ֣וֹל עַל־יְהוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ 5a Commit your way to YHWH,
וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ 5b and trust in him, and he will act,
וְהוֹצִ֣יא כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ 6a and he will make your righteousness known like the light
וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ 6b and [he will make] your justice [known] like midday.
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַיהוָה֮ וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל ל֥וֹ 7a Be silent before YHWH and wait for him!
אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ 7b Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful,
בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ 7c about a person carrying out schemes.
הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה 8a Let go of anger and leave wrath behind!
אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃ 8b Do not get upset, only to act wickedly!
כִּֽי־מְ֭רֵעִים יִכָּרֵת֑וּן 9a For those who act wickedly will be destroyed;
וְקֹוֵ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה הֵ֣מָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃ 9b but those who hope in YHWH—they will possess the land.
וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע 10a And just a little bit longer, and the wicked person will be gone;
וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ 10b And you will look closely at the place where he was, and he will not be there.
וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ 11a But the humble will possess the land
וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 11b and delight themselves in great prosperity.
זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק 12a The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person
וְחֹרֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו שִׁנָּֽיו׃ 12b and grinding his teeth at him.
אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק־ל֑וֹ 13a The Lord laughs at him,
כִּֽי־רָ֝אָ֗ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א יוֹמֽוֹ׃ 13b because he sees that his time will come.
חֶ֤רֶב ׀ פָּֽתְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ 14a The wicked have drawn swords
וְדָרְכ֪וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם 14b and strung their bows
לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן 14c in order to bring down the one who is afflicted and poor,
לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃ 14d in order to slaughter those whose conduct is upright.
חַ֭רְבָּם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם 15a Their swords will go into their own hearts
וְ֝קַשְׁתּוֹתָ֗ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ 15b and their bows will be broken.
טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק 16a A little belonging to the righteous person is better
מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ 16b than the abundance of many wicked people.
כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה 17a For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהוָֽה׃ 17b but YHWH is upholding the righteous.
יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם 18a YHWH knows the days of the blameless,
וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם לְעוֹלָ֥ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ 18b and their inheritance will be forever.
לֹֽא־יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָ֑ה 19a They will not come to shame during hard times,
וּבִימֵ֖י רְעָב֣וֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ 19b and they will eat their fill during times of famine.
כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ יֹאבֵ֗דוּ 20a For the wicked will perish,
וְאֹיְבֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה כִּיקַ֣ר כָּרִ֑ים 20b and YHWH’s enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture.
כָּל֖וּ *כֶעָשָׁ֣ן* כָּֽלוּ׃ 20c They are finished like smoke! They are finished!
לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם 21a The wicked person is borrowing and will not repay,
וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ 21b but the righteous person is giving generously.
כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ 22a For those blessed by him will possess the land,
וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ 22b and those cursed by him will be destroyed.
מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כּוֹנָ֗נוּ 23a When a person’s steps are made steadfast by YHWH,
וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ 23b then he will be pleased with his way.
כִּֽי־יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא־יוּטָ֑ל 24a When he falls, he will not fall flat,
כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ׃ 24b because YHWH is supporting his hand.
נַ֤עַר ׀ הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם־זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי 25a I was once a young man, and now I am old,
וְֽלֹא־רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב 25b and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned
וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃ 25c or his children looking for food.
כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה 26a He is always lending generously,
וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃ 26b and his children will become a blessing.
ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֗וֹב 27a Turn away from evil and do good,
וּשְׁכֹ֥ן לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 27b and you will reside forever!
כִּ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב מִשְׁפָּ֗ט 28a For YHWH loves justice,
וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־חֲ֭סִידָיו 28b and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him.
פִּֽי־צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה 30a A righteous person’s mouth utters what is wise,
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ 30b and his tongue speaks what is just.
תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ 31a The instruction of his God is in his heart.
לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ 31b His steps will not slip.
*עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ* 28c Wrong-doers are exterminated,
וְזֶ֖רַע רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽת׃ 28d and the children of the wicked are destroyed!
צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ 29a The righteous will possess the land
וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃ 29b and reside on it forever.
צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק 32a The wicked person is watching for the righteous person
וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ 32b and trying to kill him.
יְ֭הוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ בְיָד֑וֹ 33a YHWH will not abandon him into his hand,
וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ 33b and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into judgment.
קַוֵּ֤ה אֶל־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וּשְׁמֹ֬ר דַּרְכּ֗וֹ 34a Hope in YHWH and keep his way,
וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אָ֑רֶץ 34b and he will exalt you to possess the land.
בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ 34c You will see when the wicked are destroyed.
רָ֭אִיתִי רָשָׁ֣ע עָרִ֑יץ 35a I once saw a ruthless wicked person,
וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃ 35b and he was ascending like a native tree.
וָאֶעֲבֹר* וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ* 36a Then I passed by, and—get this!—he was gone;
וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃ 36b then I looked for him, and he was not found.
שְׁמָר־תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר 37a Pay attention to the blameless one, and look at the upright one,
כִּֽי־אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 37b because the future of a [blameless] person is peace.
וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו 38a But those who rebel are completely exterminated!
אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה׃ 38b The future of the wicked is destroyed!
וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת צַ֭דִּיקִים מֵיְהוָ֑ה 39a But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH,
מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗ם בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָֽה׃ 39b their fortress during times of trouble,
וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם 40a and YHWH helps them and rescues them.
יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם 40b He will rescue them from the wicked and save them,
כִּי־חָ֥סוּ בֽוֹ׃ 40c because they have sought refuge in him.

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Hebrew Verse Close-but-clear
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ 1a By David.
אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים 1b Do not get upset about those who act wickedly;
אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃ 1c Do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ 2a For they will soon wither like grass,
וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ 2b and they will fade like green leaves on plants.
בְּטַ֣ח בַּֽ֭יהוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב 3a Trust in YHWH and do good!
שְׁכָן־אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ 3b Reside in the land and graze securely!
וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל־יְהוָ֑ה 4a And then you will delight yourself in YHWH,
וְיִֽתֶּן־לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃ 4b and he will give you your heart’s desires.
גּ֣וֹל עַל־יְהוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ 5a Commit your way to YHWH,
וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ 5b and trust in him, and he will act,
וְהוֹצִ֣יא כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ 6a and he will make your righteousness known like the light
וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ 6b and [he will make] your justice [known] like midday.
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַיהוָה֮ וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל ל֥וֹ 7a Be silent before YHWH and wait for him!
אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ 7b Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful,
בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ 7c about a person carrying out schemes.
הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה 8a Let go of anger and leave wrath behind!
אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃ 8b Do not get upset, only to act wickedly!
כִּֽי־מְ֭רֵעִים יִכָּרֵת֑וּן 9a For those who act wickedly will be destroyed;
וְקֹוֵ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה הֵ֣מָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃ 9b but those who hope in YHWH—they will possess the land.
וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע 10a And just a little bit longer, and the wicked person will be gone;
וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ 10b And you will look closely at the place where he was, and he will not be there.
וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ 11a But the humble will possess the land
וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 11b and delight themselves in great prosperity.
זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק 12a The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person
וְחֹרֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו שִׁנָּֽיו׃ 12b and grinding his teeth at him.
אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק־ל֑וֹ 13a The Lord laughs at him,
כִּֽי־רָ֝אָ֗ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א יוֹמֽוֹ׃ 13b because he sees that his time will come.
חֶ֤רֶב ׀ פָּֽתְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ 14a The wicked have drawn swords
וְדָרְכ֪וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם 14b and strung their bows
לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן 14c in order to bring down the one who is afflicted and poor,
לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃ 14d in order to slaughter those whose conduct is upright.
חַ֭רְבָּם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם 15a Their swords will go into their own hearts
וְ֝קַשְׁתּוֹתָ֗ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ 15b and their bows will be broken.
טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק 16a A little belonging to the righteous person is better
מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ 16b than the abundance of many wicked people.
כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה 17a For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהוָֽה׃ 17b but YHWH is upholding the righteous.
יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם 18a YHWH knows the days of the blameless,
וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם לְעוֹלָ֥ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ 18b and their inheritance will be forever.
לֹֽא־יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָ֑ה 19a They will not come to shame during hard times,
וּבִימֵ֖י רְעָב֣וֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ 19b and they will eat their fill during times of famine.
כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ יֹאבֵ֗דוּ 20a For the wicked will perish,
וְאֹיְבֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה כִּיקַ֣ר כָּרִ֑ים 20b and YHWH’s enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture.
כָּל֖וּ *כֶעָשָׁ֣ן* כָּֽלוּ׃ 20c They are finished like smoke! They are finished!
לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם 21a The wicked person is borrowing and will not repay,
וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ 21b but the righteous person is giving generously.
כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ 22a For those blessed by him will possess the land,
וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ 22b and those cursed by him will be destroyed.
מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כּוֹנָ֗נוּ 23a When a person’s steps are made steadfast by YHWH,
וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ 23b then he will be pleased with his way.
כִּֽי־יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא־יוּטָ֑ל 24a When he falls, he will not fall flat,
כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ׃ 24b because YHWH is supporting his hand.
נַ֤עַר ׀ הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם־זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי 25a I was once a young man, and now I am old,
וְֽלֹא־רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב 25b and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned
וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃ 25c or his children looking for food.
כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה 26a He is always lending generously,
וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃ 26b and his children will become a blessing.
ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֗וֹב 27a Turn away from evil and do good,
וּשְׁכֹ֥ן לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 27b and you will reside forever!
כִּ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב מִשְׁפָּ֗ט 28a For YHWH loves justice,
וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־חֲ֭סִידָיו 28b and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him.
פִּֽי־צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה 30a A righteous person’s mouth utters what is wise,
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ 30b and his tongue speaks what is just.
תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ 31a The instruction of his God is in his heart.
לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ 31b His steps will not slip.
*עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ* 28c Wrong-doers are exterminated,
וְזֶ֖רַע רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽת׃ 28d and the children of the wicked are destroyed!
צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ 29a The righteous will possess the land
וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃ 29b and reside on it forever.
צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק 32a The wicked person is watching for the righteous person
וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ 32b and trying to kill him.
יְ֭הוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ בְיָד֑וֹ 33a YHWH will not abandon him into his hand,
וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ 33b and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into judgment.
קַוֵּ֤ה אֶל־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וּשְׁמֹ֬ר דַּרְכּ֗וֹ 34a Hope in YHWH and keep his way,
וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אָ֑רֶץ 34b and he will exalt you to possess the land.
בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ 34c You will see when the wicked are destroyed.
רָ֭אִיתִי רָשָׁ֣ע עָרִ֑יץ 35a I once saw a ruthless wicked person,
וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃ 35b and he was ascending like a native tree.
וָאֶעֲבֹר* וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ* 36a Then I passed by, and—get this!—he was gone;
וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃ 36b then I looked for him, and he was not found.
שְׁמָר־תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר 37a Pay attention to the blameless one, and look at the upright one,
כִּֽי־אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 37b because the future of a [blameless] person is peace.
וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו 38a But those who rebel are completely exterminated!
אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה׃ 38b The future of the wicked is destroyed!
וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת צַ֭דִּיקִים מֵיְהוָ֑ה 39a But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH,
מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗ם בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָֽה׃ 39b their fortress during times of trouble,
וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם 40a and YHWH helps them and rescues them.
יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם 40b He will rescue them from the wicked and save them,
כִּי־חָ֥סוּ בֽוֹ׃ 40c because they have sought refuge in him.

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Expanded Paraphrase
לְדָוִד אַל־תִּתְחַר בַּמְּרֵעִים אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בְּעֹשֵׂי עַוְלָֽה׃ 1 By David. I realize that you are upset. I realize that when you see wicked people prospering and rising in social status, you are tempted to doubt YHWH's justice and conclude that 'It is vain to serve God...Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape' (Mal 3:15, ESV; cf. Ps 73). Listen to my wise counsel, and I will tell you how you should respond to this situation. Do not get upset about those who act wickedly; Do not be jealous of those who do wrong such that you seek to imitate them.
כִּי כֶחָצִיר מְהֵרָה יִמָּלוּ וּכְיֶרֶק דֶּשֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ 2 Here is why you should not get upset or jealous or desire to be like the wicked: For they will soon wither like grass, and they will fade like green leaves on plants. You see, the wicked are like grass: they sprout up quickly and flourish for a little while, but when the scorching heat comes, they quickly dry up. If you join them, then that is what will happen to you as well.
בְּטַח בַּֽיהוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב שְׁכָן־אֶרֶץ וּרְעֵה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ 3 What you need to do is Trust in YHWH and continue practicing covenant faithfulness by do ing good to your neighbor (unlike the wicked who harm their neighbors for gain)! If you trust YHWH and do good, then you will forever Reside in the land that YHWH gave to Abraham, and you will graze securely among the sheep of his pasture!
וְהִתְעַנַּג עַל־יְהוָה וְיִֽתֶּן־לְךָ מִשְׁאֲלֹת לִבֶּֽךָ׃ 4 And then, as you dwell in the land and enjoy its benefits, you will delight yourself in YHWH, and he will give you your heart's desires. He will be your shepherd, and you will lack nothing.
גּוֹל עַל־יְהוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ וּבְטַח עָלָיו וְהוּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ 5 So what you need to do is Commit your way to YHWH. Put this difficult matter into YHWH's hands, and trust in him, and he will act (for he alone is able to do anything about it),
וְהוֹצִיא כָאוֹר צִדְקֶךָ וּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ 6 and when he does, it will become obvious to everyone that the wicked were in the wrong and that those who trusted in YHWH were in the right. And so he will make your righteousness known to everyone, just like the light is clearly visible to everyone, and [he will make] your justice, the fact that you have lived your life in accordance with YHWH's commands,[known] like midday.
דּוֹם׀ לַיהוָה וְהִתְחוֹלֵל לוֹ אַל־תִּתְחַר בְּמַצְלִיחַ דַּרְכּוֹ בְּאִישׁ עֹשֶׂה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ 7 The wicked might be prospering now, but they will not prosper for long. So instead of being upset, Be silent before YHWH and wait patiently for him! Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful by exploiting others, about a person carrying out cunning schemes designed to make himself rich and powerful at the expense of others.
הֶרֶף מֵאַף וַעֲזֹב חֵמָה אַל־תִּתְחַר אַךְ־לְהָרֵעַ 8 Let go of your anger and leave wrath behind! Do not get upset which will lead only to joining the wicked and act ing wickedly!
כִּֽי־מְרֵעִים יִכָּרֵתוּן וְקֹוֵי יְהוָה הֵמָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃ 9 Here's why you should not get upset and join the wicked: For those who act wickedly will be destroyed; but those who hope in YHWH and practice covenant faithfulness —they (and not the wicked) will possess the land.
וְעוֹד מְעַט וְאֵין רָשָׁע וְהִתְבּוֹנַנְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמוֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ 10 And just wait for YHWH a little bit longer and he will act, and the wicked person will be gone; And you will closely at the place where he was, expecting to find him, and he will not be there.
וַעֲנָוִים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָרֶץ וְהִתְעַנְּגוּ עַל־רֹב שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 11 But it is the humble —those who wait silently for YHWH while doing good—who will possess the land and delight themselves in great prosperity. For the land that YHWH gave to Abraham is "a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing" (Deut 8:7-9, NIV).
זֹמֵם רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק וְחֹרֵק עָלָיו שִׁנָּֽיו׃ 12 In the current situation, The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person and grinding his teeth at him as an expression of hostility.
אֲדֹנָי יִשְׂחַק־לוֹ כִּֽי־רָאָה כִּֽי־יָבֹא יוֹמֽוֹ׃ 13 But The all-powerful Lord laughs at him as an expression of contempt and a form of mockery, because he sees that his time, the time at which he will be destroyed, will come.
חֶרֶב׀ פָּֽתְחוּ רְשָׁעִים וְדָרְכוּ קַשְׁתָּם לְהַפִּיל עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן לִטְבוֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃ 14 The wicked have finished their plotting and are now preparing to execute their plots against the righteous. They are like dangerous warriors who have drawn their swords before the battle and strung their bows. They have prepared themselves in order to bring down the righteous one who is afflicted and poor, in order to slaughter like helpless lambs those whose conduct is upright.
חַרְבָּם תָּבוֹא בְלִבָּם וְקַשְּׁתוֹתָם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ 15 But their plots will result in their own destruction! Their swords will go into their hearts, and their bows will be broken.
טוֹב־מְעַט לַצַּדִּיק מֵהֲמוֹן רְשָׁעִים רַבִּֽים׃ 16 It's true that in the present situation wicked people sometimes prosper more than righteous people. But even A little belonging to the righteous person is better than the abundance of many wicked people.
כִּי זְרוֹעוֹת רְשָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַרְנָה וְסוֹמֵךְ צַדִּיקִים יְהוָֽה׃ 17 For the arms of the wicked, which allow them to gain wealth, will be broken, but YHWH is upholding the righteous. Their arms are not broken, and so they can hold on to what little they have and enjoy it.
יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה יְמֵי תְמִימִם וְנַחֲלָתָם לְעוֹלָם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ 18 YHWH knows the days of the blameless and cares for them every day of their lives, and their possession of the land, their inheritance, will be forever.
לֹֽא־יֵבֹשׁוּ בְּעֵת רָעָה וּבִימֵי רְעָבוֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ 19 When hard times or famine comes, people are sometimes forced to sell their land or to leave the land and sojourn in a foreign country. But this will not happen to the blameless. YHWH will provide for them, so that They will not come to shame during hard times, and they will eat their fill during times of famine.
כִּי רְשָׁעִים׀ יֹאבֵדוּ וְאֹיְבֵי יְהוָה כִּיקַר כָּרִים כָּלוּ בֶעָשָׁן כָּֽלוּ׃ 20 In sum, here is the basic reason why you should not be upset about the wicked: For the wicked will perish, and YHWH's enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture which bloom for a little while and quickly dry up in the heat. They are as good as finished just like smoke which quickly disappears into the sky and leaves no trace of its existence! They are as good as finished!
לֹוֶה רָשָׁע וְלֹא יְשַׁלֵּם וְצַדִּיק חוֹנֵן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ 21 In the current situation, The wicked person is borrowing from the righteous person who graciously lends him money, and the wicked person, in an attempt to defraud the righteous person and take advantage of his generosity, will not repay, but the righteous person is still trusting in YHWH and doing good and giving generously despite the economic disadvantage.
כִּי מְבֹרָכָיו יִירְשׁוּ אָרֶץ וּמְקֻלָּלָיו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ 22 For those blessed by him, that is, by YHWH, know that in the end they will possess the land in its fullness, and so they are not concerned about short-term economic loss, and those cursed by him, that is, by YHWH, will be destroyed, and so they do everything they can in the present moment to accumulate wealth, including defrauding others by lending without repaying.
מֵיְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ וְדַרְכּוֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ 23 YHWH is the one who brings a person's life journey in line with his own will, who gives a person the ability to walk according to his commands. When a person's steps are made steadfast by YHWH, in this manner, then he, that is, YHWH, will be pleased with t his person's way.
כִּֽי־יִפֹּל לֹֽא־יוּטָל כִּֽי־יְהוָה סוֹמֵךְ יָדֽוֹ׃ 24 When he falls, that is, when he experiences hardship or when he is tempted to get upset at the wicked as you are now, he will not fall flat, that is, he will not be devastated by the hardship or get upset so as to join the wicked. Instead, YHWH will catch him, because YHWH is supporting his hand.
נַעַר׀ הָיִיתִי גַּם־זָקַנְתִּי וְֽלֹא־רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק נֶעֱזָב וְזַרְעוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃ 25 Learn from my experience: I was once a young man much like yourself; and now I am old, and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned or his children looking for food.
כָּל־הַיּוֹם חוֹנֵן וּמַלְוֶה וְזַרְעוֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃ 26 Instead, I have seen YHWH provide for the righteous time and time again. Not only has he given the righteous enough to provide for his family, but he has given him enough to be generous towards others: He is always lending generously, and after a life-time of generosity, his children will become a blessing. That is, when people see his children, they will say, 'Blessed are you! Your father was a good and generous man!'
סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב וּשְׁכֹן לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 27 Do not join the wicked! Instead, Turn away from the evil that leads only to a vanishing prosperity, and do what is just and good, and you will reside in the land forever!
כִּי יְהוָה׀ אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָּט וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹב אֶת־חֲסִידָיו 28a* For YHWH loves justice and he rewards those who act justly, who live in accordance with his commands, and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him.
פִּֽי־צַדִּיק יֶהְגֶּה חָכְמָה וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ תְּדַבֵּר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ 30* One of the ways in which you can 'do good' is by speaking words that are wise and just, for the benefit of your neighbor. A righteous person's mouth utters what is wise, and his tongue speaks what is just.
תּוֹרַת אֱלֹהָיו בְּלִבּוֹ לֹא תִמְעַד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ 31* The reason why he can speak with such wisdom and justice is because The instruction of his God, the ultimate guide to wisdom and justice, is in his heart, and he meditates on it day and night. Because YHWH's instruction gives perfect guidance for life's journey, His steps will not slip. When he is tempted to get upset and join the wicked, he will resist and continue walking according to YHWH's instruction.
*עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ* וְזֶרַע רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽת׃ 28b* By contrast, Wrong-doers who do not follow YHWH's instruction, are as good as exterminated, and the children of the wicked, far from becoming a blessing, are as good as destroyed!
צַדִּיקִים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָרֶץ וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶֽיהָ׃ 29* It is The righteous who will possess the land and reside on it forever.
צוֹפֶה רָשָׁע לַצַּדִּיק וּמְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲמִיתוֹ׃ 32 In the current situation, The wicked person is watching for the righteous person and trying to kill him by any means necessary, including bringing him to court on false charges and finding false witnesses to testify against him.
יְהוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶנּוּ בְיָדוֹ וְלֹא יַרְשִׁיעֶנּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ 33 But YHWH will not abandon him into his hand, and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into the judgment that the wicked person has initiated, in an attempt to have the righteous person killed and to seize his property.
קַוֵּה אֶל־יְהוָה׀ וּשְׁמֹר דַּרְכּוֹ וִֽירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶשֶׁת אָרֶץ בְּהִכָּרֵת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ 34 Instead of getting upset about the wicked, Hope in YHWH and keep his way, even when his way is difficult to walk, and in the end he will exalt you to possess the land. And from your exalted height, You will see when the wicked are destroyed just as Abraham looked down at the destruction of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
רָאִיתִי רָשָׁע עָרִיץ וּמִתְעָרֶה כְּאֶזְרָח רַעֲנָֽן׃ 35 Learn from my experience. I've seen it happen before. I once saw a ruthless wicked person, and he was ascending like a native tree —the kind of tree that grows quickly and is very resilent, nearly impossible to get rid of.
וָאֶעֲבֹר וְהִנֵּה אֵינֶנּוּ וָֽאֲבַקְשֵׁהוּ וְלֹא נִמְצָֽא׃ 36 But Then one day I passed by, and—get this!—he was gone; then I looked for him, assuming that he had to be somewhere, and —I could hardly believe it— he was not found.
שְׁמָר־תָּם וּרְאֵה יָשָׁר כִּֽי־אַחֲרִית לְאִישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 37 Pay attention to the positive example of the blameless one and look at the upright one, because the future of a [blameless] person is peace and prosperity in the land.
וּֽפֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְדוּ יַחְדָּו אַחֲרִית רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָֽתָה׃ 38 But those who rebel against YHWH by not keeping his covenant are as good as completely exterminated! The future of the wicked, which might appear to be a long life in the land full of peace and prolonged through descendants, is actually as good as destroyed!
וּתְשׁוּעַת צַדִּיקִים מֵיְהוָה 39 But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH, their fortress during times of trouble.
וַֽיַּעְזְרֵם יְהוָה וַֽיְפַלְּטֵם יְפַלְּטֵם מֵרְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם כִּי־חָסוּ בֽוֹ׃ 40 When they are threatened by danger from the wicked or by famine or by a temptation to join the wicked, and YHWH helps them and rescues them. He will always rescue them from the wicked and save them, because they have sought refuge in him as one seeks refuge in a fortress.

Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.

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Psalm 037 - PA Table .jpg