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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Psalms 37:12-20

PSALM—NOTE ON Psalms 37:12 The wicked person may hatch all manner of schemes against the righteous person (v. Psalms 37:12), but the faithful can live in contentment, even with little (v. Psalms 37:16; see Proverbs 15:16; Proverbs 16:8). They are confident that God knows the days of the blameless (Psalms 37:18) and will see to it that the wicked will perish, unfulfilled (v. Psalms 37:20).

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See also Psalms 37:12-20 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THE WICKED PLOTTETH AGAINST THE JUST - Margin, “practiceth.” The Hebrew word means to plot; to lie in wait; to plan; to purpose; to devise. See Psalms 31:13. The meaning is, that wicked people lay the...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    Psalms 37 The Blessed Lot of the Righteous Contrasted with the Wicked _ 1. Waiting for Jehovah and His promise (Psalms 37:1)_ 2. The doom of the wicked and the portion of the righteous (Psalms 37:...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    XXXVII. An acrostic poem. Its object is to teach patience and hope. The pious Jews, the Hasidim of Psalms 4:3 * who observe the Law strictly, are at present poor and oppressed. They are to wait for th...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The wicked deviseth mischief against the righteous. Cp. Psalms 37:7_; Psalms 37:32_. _gnasheth_&c. Like a furious wild beast, eager to seize its prey. Cf. Psalms 35:16....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Stanza of _Zayin_. The impotent rage of the wicked....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Disappointment and destruction are the destiny of the wicked....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PSALMS 37 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE An Alphabetical Exhortation to Patience in Well-Doing, notwithstanding the Temporary Prosperity of the Lawless. ANALYSIS It is not easy to resolve this psalm into any ot...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _THE WICKED PLOTTETH AGAINST THE JUST, AND GNASHETH UPON HIM WITH HIS TEETH._ The wicked plotteth ... David admits that the present power and malice of the wicked might at first sight seem to negativ...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    This is an acrostic Ps., in which the alphabetic arrangement is carried without a break through 22 stanzas of varying length, to which the vv. of the English Bible do not correspond. The contents are...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Psalms 1:41 _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ Words in boxes are from the Bible. The notes explain some of the words with a *star by them. Tap the * before a word to show an explanation. The translated Bible tex...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַ † צַּדִּ֑יק וְ חֹרֵ֖ק...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Psalms 37:1 THERE is a natural connection between acrostic structure and didactic tone, as is shown in several instances, and especially in this psalm. The structure is on the whole regular, each seco...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A SURE CURE FOR FRETTING Psalms 37:1 This is an acrostic psalm, grappling with the problem of the inequality of human life and the apparent failure of God to reward His servants and punish His enemie...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This psalm has as its keynote "Fret not." The underlying problem is the prosperity of evil men. It is an astonishment and a perplexity still, troubling many a tried and trusting heart. The psalmist fi...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (i) The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. (i) The godly are assured that the power and craft of the wicked will not prevail against them, but fall on their own n...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Have. Hebrew, "over-against my wound (Haydock) or leprosy." (Calmet) Protestants, "stand aloof from my sore." (Haydock) --- But the original means rather "near to." Septuagint may have read u for i, i...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    What an awful day of God will this be. Reader! if you look into the world, and behold the proud man's scorn, and the poor man's oppressed circumstances, recollect what is here said: The day is coming....

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    12._The wicked plotteth against the righteous. _David here anticipates an objection which might have been taken to the preceding verse. Where, it might be said, can tranquillity and joy be found when...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Psalms 37. In this interesting psalm the great point pressed on the remnant, a lesson for every soul, is waiting on Jehovah, and not having the spirit disturbed by evil; they will soon be cut down lik...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THE WICKED PLOTTETH AGAINST THE JUST,.... Forms schemes to make him uneasy, uncomfortable, and unhappy: AND GNASHETH UPON HIM WITH HIS TEETH: which expresses his malice and hatred, as David's enemies...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. Ver. 12. _The wicked plotteth against the just_] Plotteth and practiseth, being set on by that old manslayer, who lendeth t...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The wicked plotteth against the just_ There is a rooted enmity in the seed of the wicked one against the righteous seed: their aim is, if they can, to destroy their righteousness; if that fail, then...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE APPARENT GOOD FORTUNE OF THE GODLESS COMPARED WITH THE BELIEVERS' TRUE HAPPINESS. A psalm of David, rightly considered one of the most beautiful written by him, called by Luther the garment of th...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The wicked plotteth against the just, with the intention of harming him at every opportunity, AND GNASHETH UPON HIM WITH HIS TEETH, in a gesture of unbridled fury....

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    PLOTTETH: Or, practiseth...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For,...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Out of malice and rage. SEE POOLE ON "PSALMS 35:16"....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Psalms 37:12 wicked H7563 plots H2161 (H8802) just H6662 gnashes H2786 (H8802) teeth H8127 plotteth - or, practiseth,...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    2). THE TRIUMPHS OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS ARE TEMPORARY, AND FOR THEM RETRIBUTION WILL COME, WHILE THE RIGHTEOUS HAVE AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE TO BE ENJOYED BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE (ZAYIN TO LAMED - PSALMS...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    May the Spirit of God graciously apply this Psalm to our hearts, comforting us as no one else can! Is he not the Comforter, and what better cordial has he for our spirits than his own Word? Psalms 37...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Psalms 37:1. _Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity._ They often seem to have the best of it in this life; but if it really is so, we must nev...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    This is one of the Psalms of David which have often cheered the saints of God when they have been perplexed because of the prosperity of the wicked and their own troubles. Psalms 37:1. _Fret not thys...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    It may be, beloved friends, that there is a word of comfort for some of you in this «Psalm of David.» If any of you have been perplexed and worried, and there has been a stern conflict within your spi...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Let us read tonight part of the thirty-seventh Psalm. David here first of all dissuades himself and us from falling into a very common evil, that of envying the wicked because of their prosperity, and...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The riddle of the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous. CHARACTERS: God, David. CONCLUSION: The believer should never waste a minute fretting about his enemies, but...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Psalms 37:1. _Fret not thyself,_ be not angry or irritated, _because of evil doers._ Let the consummate courtier gain elevation, let the merchant aggrandize his family, and the rich men buy the lands...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Fret not thyself because of evil-doers._ FRET NOT There are many who suppose that it is well-nigh impossible to pass the time of our sojourning here without some degree of anxiety and depression of...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth._ THE PLOTTINGS OF THE WICKED AGAINST THE GOOD That the wicked plot against the just is matter of history, and of everyday...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    INTRODUCTION This psalm was probably written by David in his old age, and contains his experience in reference to the providential dealings of God with men. It acknowledges the transient prosperity o...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THIS is another of the alphabetical psalms (see above, Psalms 9:1; Psalms 25:1; and 34.), and, though more free from irregularities than the previous ones, is not altogether without them. W...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Psa 37:1-40 is an interesting psalm of David in which he begins with the words, Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity (Psalms 37:1). In verse...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 18:21; 1 Samuel 23:7; 2 Samuel 15:10; Daniel 8:12; Danie

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