[1] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Fret not — Because they prosper in their wicked enterprizes.
Verse 5
[5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Commit — All thy cares and business, and necessities, commend to God by fervent prayer.
Verse 6
[6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Judgment — It shall be as visible to men, as the light of the sun, at noon-day.
Verse 7
[7] 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.
Rest — Do not repine at his dealings, but quietly submit to his will, and wait for his help.
Verse 8
[8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Fret not — Either against the sinner for his success; or against God.
Do evil — If grief arise in thee, take care that it do not transport thee to sin.
Verse 9
[9] For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
The earth — This for the most part was literally fulfilled in that state of the church.
Verse 10
[10] For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
Not be — He shall be dead and gone.
Diligently — Industriously seeking him.
His place — His place and estate, and glory.
Verse 11
[11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
But — Those who patiently bear God's afflicting hand, and meekly pass by injuries.
Peace — Partly of outward peace and prosperity, which God in his due time will give them: but principally of inward peace, in the sense of God's favour and the assurance of endless happiness.
Verse 13
[13] The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
His day — The day appointed by God for his punishment or destruction.
Verse 18
[18] The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Knoweth — Observes with care and affection.
The days — All things which befal them, their dangers and fears, and suffering.
For ever — To them and their seed for ever: and when they die their inheritance is not lost, but exchanged for one infinitely better.
Verse 20
[20] 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.
Fat — Which in an instant melts before the fire.
Verse 23
[23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Established — So that he shall not fall into mischief.
Verse 24
[24] Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Fall — Into trouble.
Verse 25
[25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Forsaken — These temporal promises, were more express to the Jews in the times of the Old Testament, than to Christians.
Verse 26
[26] He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Blessed — Not only with spiritual, but with temporal blessings.
Verse 27
[27] Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Dwell — Thou shalt dwell in the land, and afterwards in heaven.
Verse 30
[30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The mouth — Having shewed, God's singular care over the righteous, he proceeds to give a character of them.
Judgment — Of God's judgment, word or law.
Verse 31
[31] The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Heart — His thoughts, meditations and affections are fixed upon it.
Slide — Slide, or swerve, from the rule, from God's law.
Verse 35
[35] I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Bay-tree — Which is continually green and flourishing even in winter.
Verse 36
[36] Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Yet — He was gone in an instant.
But — There was no monument or remainder of him left.
Verse 37
[37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Peace — Though he may meet with troubles in his way, yet all shall end well.
Verse 38
[38] But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalm 37 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Fret not — Because they prosper in their wicked enterprizes.
Verse 5
[5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Commit — All thy cares and business, and necessities, commend to God by fervent prayer.
Verse 6
[6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Judgment — It shall be as visible to men, as the light of the sun, at noon-day.
Verse 7
[7] 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.
Rest — Do not repine at his dealings, but quietly submit to his will, and wait for his help.
Verse 8
[8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Fret not — Either against the sinner for his success; or against God.
Do evil — If grief arise in thee, take care that it do not transport thee to sin.
Verse 9
[9] For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
The earth — This for the most part was literally fulfilled in that state of the church.
Verse 10
[10] For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
Not be — He shall be dead and gone.
Diligently — Industriously seeking him.
His place — His place and estate, and glory.
Verse 11
[11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
But — Those who patiently bear God's afflicting hand, and meekly pass by injuries.
Peace — Partly of outward peace and prosperity, which God in his due time will give them: but principally of inward peace, in the sense of God's favour and the assurance of endless happiness.
Verse 13
[13] The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
His day — The day appointed by God for his punishment or destruction.
Verse 18
[18] The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Knoweth — Observes with care and affection.
The days — All things which befal them, their dangers and fears, and suffering.
For ever — To them and their seed for ever: and when they die their inheritance is not lost, but exchanged for one infinitely better.
Verse 20
[20] 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.
Fat — Which in an instant melts before the fire.
Verse 23
[23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Established — So that he shall not fall into mischief.
Verse 24
[24] Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Fall — Into trouble.
Verse 25
[25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Forsaken — These temporal promises, were more express to the Jews in the times of the Old Testament, than to Christians.
Verse 26
[26] He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Blessed — Not only with spiritual, but with temporal blessings.
Verse 27
[27] Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Dwell — Thou shalt dwell in the land, and afterwards in heaven.
Verse 30
[30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The mouth — Having shewed, God's singular care over the righteous, he proceeds to give a character of them.
Judgment — Of God's judgment, word or law.
Verse 31
[31] The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Heart — His thoughts, meditations and affections are fixed upon it.
Slide — Slide, or swerve, from the rule, from God's law.
Verse 35
[35] I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Bay-tree — Which is continually green and flourishing even in winter.
Verse 36
[36] Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Yet — He was gone in an instant.
But — There was no monument or remainder of him left.
Verse 37
[37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Peace — Though he may meet with troubles in his way, yet all shall end well.
Verse 38
[38] But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
Together — All without exception.