Psalms · 40 verses

Psalms 37

Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.

The chapter

What happens here

Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.

The Lord laughs while the wicked gnash their teeth, because their day is coming.

The grass does not lastvv. 1–11

David opens with a curious command not to fret over evil-doers, as though envy were an especially poor investment: they wither like grass and wilt like tender plants. Against their brief flourishing stands a patient life—trusting, doing good, dwelling in the land, delighting in the LORD, and waiting quietly while wicked schemes bustle about. A little while later, the wicked will be no more, while the meek inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.

The teeth, the laugh, and the broken bowvv. 12–26

Now the wicked are no longer merely flourishing in the abstract: they scheme, gnash their teeth, draw the sword, and bend the bow against the poor and needy. The LORD laughs at this alarming display, seeing that its day is coming; the weapons turn inward, and the swords pierce the hearts of their owners. The psalm then prefers a righteous person's little to a wicked multitude's abundance, and David adds the testimony of age: he has never seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. Their household is marked by generosity, lending, and blessing—a remarkably well-behaved sort of prosperity.

The tree that disappearedvv. 27–40

The final movement returns to the ways of the righteous: their mouths utter wisdom, their tongues speak justice, and their steps do not falter. The wicked may lie in wait, but the LORD does not leave the righteous in their power. David has seen the spectacle himself—a ruthless man flourishing like a deeply rooted native tree—only for the man to pass away so completely that even a search could not find him. The psalm ends with the LORD as stronghold, help, deliverer, rescuer, and saviour of those who take refuge in Him.

The text

Read it

Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.

Ps 37:1Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
Ps 37:2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
Ps 37:3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Ps 37:4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Ps 37:5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
Ps 37:6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.
Ps 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
Ps 37:8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
Ps 37:9For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
Ps 37:10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
Ps 37:11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
Ps 37:12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
Ps 37:13but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.
Ps 37:14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
Ps 37:15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
Ps 37:16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
Ps 37:17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
Ps 37:18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.
Ps 37:19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
Ps 37:20But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.
Ps 37:21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
Ps 37:22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.
Ps 37:23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
Ps 37:24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
Ps 37:25I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.
Ps 37:26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
Ps 37:27Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
Ps 37:28For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.
Ps 37:29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
Ps 37:30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
Ps 37:31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
Ps 37:32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
Ps 37:33the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.
Ps 37:34Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
Ps 37:35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
Ps 37:36yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.
Ps 37:37Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.
Ps 37:38But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
Ps 37:39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
Ps 37:40The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.

01 — Also here

Who else the chapter reaches

Names written in the English are linked in the text above. These are the ones that are not: an entity the Hebrew or Greek names under a spelling the translation does not use, or one reached only by an assertion about a verse of this chapter.

Reached by an assertion Atlas extracted from a verse of this chapter rather than by a name written in it — a pronoun, a title, or a participant the sentence carries without naming. This layer is model-read and measured at 88.6–90.3% precision, and it is kept separate from the names above for that reason.

02 — Read alongside

Where this is echoed

Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 527 passages were voted onto 40 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.

4 John 15:7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
4 Psalms 145:19He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.
4 John 15:16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
4 Isaiah 58:14then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
4 1 John 5:14–15And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
4 Psalms 21:1–2For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength. How greatly he exults in Your salvation!
5 Proverbs 16:3Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
4 Job 22:26Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
4 1 Peter 1:8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
4 Psalms 104:34May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
5 1 Peter 5:7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
4 Job 27:10Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?
5 Philippians 4:6–7Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
23 Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
3 Jeremiah 17:7–8But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
1 Psalms 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.

Onward

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