12 The wicked H7563 plotteth H2161 against the just, H6662 and gnasheth H2786 upon him with his teeth. H8127
With hypocritical H2611 mockers H3934 in feasts, H4580 they gnashed H2786 upon me with their teeth. H8127
Woe H1945 to them that devise H2803 iniquity, H205 and work H6466 evil H7451 upon their beds! H4904 when the morning H1242 is light, H216 they practise H6213 it, because it is H3426 in the power H410 of their hand. H3027
And Saul H7586 said, H559 I will give H5414 him her, that she may be a snare H4170 to him, and that the hand H3027 of the Philistines H6430 may be against him. Wherefore Saul H7586 said H559 to David, H1732 Thou shalt this day H3117 be my son in law H2859 in the one of the twain. H8147
And it was told H5046 Saul H7586 that David H1732 was come H935 to Keilah. H7084 And Saul H7586 said, H559 God H430 hath delivered H5234 him into mine hand; H3027 for he is shut in, H5462 by entering H935 into a town H5892 that hath gates H1817 and bars. H1280 And Saul H7586 called H8085 all the people H5971 together H8085 to war, H4421 to go down H3381 to Keilah, H7084 to besiege H6696 David H1732 and his men. H582 And David H1732 knew H3045 that Saul H7586 secretly practised H2790 mischief H7451 against him; and he said H559 to Abiathar H54 the priest, H3548 Bring hither H5066 the ephod. H646
But Absalom H53 sent H7971 spies H7270 throughout all the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 As soon as ye hear H8085 the sound H6963 of the trumpet, H7782 then ye shall say, H559 Absalom H53 reigneth H4427 in Hebron. H2275 And with Absalom H53 went H1980 two hundred H3967 men H376 out of Jerusalem, H3389 that were called; H7121 and they went H1980 in their simplicity, H8537 and they knew H3045 not any thing. H1697 And Absalom H53 sent H7971 for Ahithophel H302 the Gilonite, H1526 David's H1732 counsellor, H3289 from his city, H5892 even from Giloh, H1542 while he offered H2076 sacrifices. H2077 And the conspiracy H7195 was strong; H533 for the people H5971 increased H7227 continually H1980 with Absalom. H53
And he thought H5869 scorn H959 to lay H7971 hands H3027 on Mordecai H4782 alone; for they had shewed H5046 him the people H5971 of Mordecai: H4782 wherefore Haman H2001 sought H1245 to destroy H8045 all the Jews H3064 that were throughout the whole kingdom H4438 of Ahasuerus, H325 even the people H5971 of Mordecai. H4782
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 37
Commentary on Psalms 37 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 37
Ps 37:1-40. 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.
1, 2. 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.
3. Trust—sure of safety.
shalt thou dwell—or, "dwell thou"; repose quietly.
verily … fed—or, "feed on truth," God's promise (Ps 36:5; compare Ho 12:1).
4. desires—(Ps 20:5; 21:2), what is lawful and right, really good (Ps 84:11).
5. Commit thy way—(Pr 16:3). Works—what you have to do and cannot set forth as a burden.
trust … in him—literally, "on Him." He will do what you cannot (compare Ps 22:8; 31:6). He will not suffer your character to remain under suspicion.
7, 8. Rest in—literally, "Be silent to the Lord."
and wait—Be submissive—avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.
9. Two reasons: The prosperity of the wicked is short; and the pious, by humble trust, will secure all covenant blessing, denoted here by "inherit the earth" (compare Ps 25:13).
10, 11. shall not be—literally, "is not"—is not to be found.
11. peace—includes prosperity.
12. gnasheth … teeth—in beastly rage.
13. (Compare Ps 2:4).
seeth—knows certainly.
his day—of punishment, long delayed, shall yet come (Heb 10:37).
14, 15. sword, and … bow—for any instruments of violence.
slay—literally, "slaughter" (1Sa 25:11).
poor and needy—God's people (Ps 10:17; 12:5). The punishment of the wicked as drawn on themselves—often mentioned (compare Ps 7:15, 16; 35:8).
16. riches—literally, "noise and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare Ps 39:6). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man is more vivid.
17. Even the members of the body needed to hold weapons are destroyed.
18, 19. God, who knows His people's changes, provides against evil and supplies all their need.
20. While the wicked, however mighty, are destroyed, and that utterly, as smoke which vanishes and leaves no trace.
21, 22. payeth not—not able; having grown poor (compare De 15:7). Ability of the one and inability of the other do not exclude moral dispositions. God's blessing or cursing makes the difference.
22. cut off—opposed to "inherit the earth" (compare Le 7:20, 21).
23, 24. steps—way, or, "course of life"; as ordered by God, failures will not be permanent.
26. his seed is blessed—literally, "for a blessing" (Ge 12:2; Ps 21:6). This position is still true as the rule of God's economy (1Ti 4:8; 6:6).
27-29. The exhortation is sustained by the assurance of God's essential rectitude in that providential government which provides perpetual blessings for the good, and perpetual misery for the wicked.
30, 31. The righteous described as to the elements of character, thought, word, and action.
31. steps—or, "goings"—for conduct which is unwavering (Ps 18:36).
32, 33. The devices of the wicked against the good fail because God acquits them.
34. On the contrary, the good are not only blessed, but made to see the ruin of their foes.
35, 36. of which a picture is given, under the figure of a flourishing tree (compare Margin), which soon withers.
36. he was not—(Compare Ps 37:10).
37. By "the end" is meant reward (Pr 23:18; 24:14), or expectation of success, as in Ps 37:38, which describes the end of the wicked in contrast, and that is cut off (compare Ps 73:17).
38. together—at once; entirely (Ps 4:8).
39, 40. strength—(Ps 27:1; 28:8).
trouble—straits (Ps 9:9; 10:1). In trust and quietness is the salvation of the pious from all foes and all their devices.