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Selected Verse: Psalms 37:1 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ps 37:1 |
Strong Concordance |
A Psalm of David [01732]. Fret [02734] not thyself because of evildoers [07489], neither be thou envious [07065] against the workers [06213] of iniquity [05766]. |
| |
King James |
A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
A composed and uniform trust in God and a constant course of integrity are urged in view of the blessedness of the truly pious, contrasted in various aspects with the final ruin of the wicked. Thus the wisdom and justice of God's providence are vindicated, and its seeming inequalities, which excite the cavils of the wicked and the distrust of the pious, are explained. David's personal history abundantly illustrates the Psalm. (Psa. 37:1-40)
The general sentiment of the whole Psalm is expressed. The righteous need not be vexed by the prosperity of the wicked; for it is transient, and their destiny undesirable. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Fret not thyself - The Hebrew word here means properly to burn, to be kindled, to be inflamed, and is often applied to anger, as if under its influence we become "heated:" Gen 31:36; Gen 34:7; Sa1 15:11; Sa2 19:43. Hence, it means to fret oneself, to be angry, or indignant. Compare Pro 24:19. We should perhaps express the same idea by the word "worrying" or "chafing." The state of mind is that where we are worried, or envious, because others are prosperous and successful, and we are not. The idea is, therefore, closely allied with that in the other part of the verse, "neither be thou "envious.""
Because of evil-doers - Wicked men:
(a) at the fact that there are wicked men, or that God suffers them to live;
(b) at their numbers;
(c) at their success and prosperity.
Neither be thou envious - Envy is pain, mortification, discontent, at the superior excellence or prosperity of others, accompanied often with some degree of malignant feeling, and with a disposition to detract from their merit. It is the result of a comparison of ourselves with others who are more highly gifted or favored, or who are more successful than we are ourselves. The feeling referred to here is that which springs up in the mind when we see persons of corrupt or wicked character prospered, while we, endeavoring to do right, are left to poverty, to disappointment, and to tears. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| Olshausen observes, "The poet keeps entirely to the standpoint of the old Hebrew doctrine of recompense, which the Book of Job so powerfully refutes." But, viewed in the light of the final issue, all God's government is really in a word righteous recompense; and the Old Testament theodicy is only inadequate in so far as the future, which adjusts all present inconsistencies, is still veiled. Meanwhile the punitive justice of God does make itself manifest, as a rule, in the case of the ungodly even in the present world; even their dying is usually a fearful end to their life's prosperity. This it is which the poet means here, and which is also expressed by Job himself in the Book of Job, Job 27:1. With התחרה, to grow hot or angry (distinct from תּחרה, to emulate, Jer 12:5; Jer 22:15), alternates קנּא, to get into a glow, excandescentia, whether it be the restrained heat of sullen envy, or the incontrollable heat of impetuous zeal which would gladly call down fire from heaven. This first distich has been transferred to the Book of Proverbs, Pro 24:19, cf. Pro 23:17; Pro 24:1; Pro 3:31; and in general we may remark that this Psalm is one of the Davidic patterns for the Salomonic gnome system. The form ימּלוּ is, according to Gesenius, Olshausen, and Hitzig, fut. Kal of מלל, cognate אמל, they wither away, pausal form for ימּלוּ like יתּממוּ, Psa 102:28; but the signification to cut off also is secured to the verb מלל by the Niph. נמל, Gen 17:11, whence fut. ימּלוּ = ימּלּוּ; vid., on Job 14:2; Job 18:16. ירק דּשׁא is a genitival combination: the green (viror) of young vigorous vegetation. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Fret not - Because they prosper in their wicked enterprizes. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Fret not thyself because of evil doers - It is as foolish as it is wicked to repine or be envious at the prosperity of others. Whether they are godly or ungodly, it is God who is the dispenser of the bounty they enjoy; and, most assuredly, he has a right to do what he will with his own. To be envious in such a case, is to arraign the providence of God. And it is no small condescension in the Almighty to reason with such persons as he does in this Psalm. |
19 Fret [02734] not thyself because of evil [07489] men, neither be thou envious [07065] at the wicked [07563];
43 And the men [0376] of Israel [03478] answered [06030] the men [0376] of Judah [03063], and said [0559], We have ten [06235] parts [03027] in the king [04428], and we [0589] have also more right in David [01732] than ye: why then did ye despise [07043] us, that our advice [01697] should not be first [07223] had in bringing back [07725] our king [04428]? And the words [01697] of the men [0376] of Judah [03063] were fiercer [07185] than the words [01697] of the men [0376] of Israel [03478].
11 It repenteth [05162] me that I have set up [04427] Saul [07586] to be king [04428]: for he is turned back [07725] from following [0310] me, and hath not performed [06965] my commandments [01697]. And it grieved [02734] Samuel [08050]; and he cried [02199] unto the LORD [03068] all night [03915].
7 And the sons [01121] of Jacob [03290] came [0935] out of the field [07704] when they heard [08085] it: and the men [0582] were grieved [06087], and they were very [03966] wroth [02734], because he had wrought [06213] folly [05039] in Israel [03478] in lying [07901] with Jacob's [03290] daughter [01323]; which thing ought not to be done [06213].
36 And Jacob [03290] was wroth [02734], and chode [07378] with Laban [03837]: and Jacob [03290] answered [06030] and said [0559] to Laban [03837], What is my trespass [06588]? what is my sin [02403], that thou hast so hotly pursued [01814] after me [0310]?
16 His roots [08328] shall be dried up [03001] beneath, and above [04605] shall his branch [07105] be cut off [05243].
2 He cometh forth [03318] like a flower [06731], and is cut down [05243]: he fleeth [01272] also as a shadow [06738], and continueth [05975] not.
11 And ye shall circumcise [05243] the flesh [01320] of your foreskin [06190]; and it shall be a token [0226] of the covenant [01285] betwixt me and you.
28 The children [01121] of thy servants [05650] shall continue [07931], and their seed [02233] shall be established [03559] before [06440] thee.
31 Envy [07065] thou not the oppressor [0376] [02555], and choose [0977] none of his ways [01870].
1 Be not thou envious [07065] against evil [07451] men [0582], neither desire [0183] to be with them.
17 Let not thine heart [03820] envy [07065] sinners [02400]: but be thou in the fear [03374] of the LORD [03068] all the day [03117] long.
19 Fret [02734] not thyself because of evil [07489] men, neither be thou envious [07065] at the wicked [07563];
15 Shalt thou reign [04427], because thou closest [08474] thyself in cedar [0730]? did not thy father [01] eat [0398] and drink [08354], and do [06213] judgment [04941] and justice [06666], and then it was well [02896] with him?
5 If thou hast run [07323] with the footmen [07273], and they have wearied [03811] thee, then how canst thou contend [08474] with horses [05483]? and if in the land [0776] of peace [07965], wherein thou trustedst [0982], they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do [06213] in the swelling [01347] of Jordan [03383]?
1 Moreover Job [0347] continued [03254] [05375] his parable [04912], and said [0559],