Psalm 37, written by King David, is a powerful and timeless message that speaks to anyone who has ever felt frustrated by the apparent success of the wicked or the struggles of the righteous. It’s a psalm that dives deep into the human experience—envy, injustice, the longing for security—and offers a clear path forward: trust in God, do good, and wait patiently for His justice. David, who faced enemies like Saul and even his own son Absalom, knew what it was like to see evil prosper while he clung to faith. This psalm, likely penned in his later years, reflects his life’s lessons, shaped into an acrostic poem that moves through the Hebrew alphabet, symbolizing a complete guide for living wisely. For us today, it’s a call to look beyond the surface, to see God’s truth and reality, and to live as lights in a world often clouded by darkness.
Historically, David’s words come from a place of personal struggle and triumph. As a shepherd turned king, he navigated a life full of threats and betrayals, yet he saw God deliver him time and again. This context makes Psalm 37 feel grounded—it’s not abstract advice but wisdom forged in the fires of real hardship. The deeper truth here is that life isn’t about what we see in the moment. The wicked might flourish like green grass, but they’ll soon wither, while the righteous, who trust in God, will inherit something lasting. It’s a universal message: don’t let envy or anger pull you off course. Instead, delight in the Lord, commit your way to Him, and rest in His timing. This isn’t just for ancient Israel—it’s for all of us, wrestling with a world where fairness doesn’t always seem to win.
What’s striking is how Psalm 37 connects so naturally to Jesus and his teachings. Take verse 11: “But the meek shall inherit the earth.” Jesus echoes this in the Beatitudes, saying, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Both David and Jesus point to a kingdom where humility and trust in God, not power or scheming, lead to true reward. Jesus’ parables, like the Good Samaritan, flesh this out—showing that doing good and loving others is what righteousness looks like, even when it’s costly. Jesus himself lived this psalm, facing evil head-on yet trusting God’s plan, his resurrection proving that the righteous are ultimately upheld. For those who follow him, Psalm 37 isn’t just poetry—it’s a preview of the life he calls us to.
This psalm also paints God as the author of truth and reality. He sees what’s real: the upright have an eternal inheritance, while the wicked are like smoke that vanishes (verses 18, 20). Jesus steps into this as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), showing us what’s lasting amid a world of illusions. Those who don’t see this—who chase power or wealth over God—are stuck in darkness, deceived by lies that won’t hold up. David warns against this, and Jesus invites us out of it. As his followers, we’re called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16), shining truth into that darkness. It’s not about judging—it’s about speaking truth with love and compassion, offering a way out of deception.
So, Psalm 37 is a choice laid before us. We can be children of truth, living in God’s reality, or children of the father of lies, lost in temporary shadows. David says the wicked fade, but the righteous find peace and dwell forever. Jesus says he came to give life in abundance (John 10:10). Being a “TeknaTruth”—a child of truth—means choosing trust over worry, good over evil, light over darkness. It’s a daily call to live out this psalm, to share its hope with others, and to invite them into the real, lasting life God offers. Let’s choose that path, and help others find it too.
Full Text of Psalm 37 (NKJV)
A Psalm of David.
1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
28 For the Lord loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.