Psalm 37/Text/Table/At-a-glance
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
| Speaker | Structure | Hebrew | Verse | Close-but-clear | Addressee | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Superscription |
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ | 1a | By David. | |||||||
David | Getting Upset vs. Trusting |
אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים | 1b | Do not get upset about those who act wickedly; | confident | General audience | ||||
| 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. | ||||||||
The Wicked Fade |
זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק | 12a | The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person | contempt | ||||||
| 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 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! | ||||||||
The Righteous Last |
לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם | 21a | The wicked person is borrowing and will not repay, | confident | ||||||
| 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. | ||||||||
Watching and Waiting |
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. |