Psalms 37:1-2
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Hebrew word translated "fret not" carries the sense of becoming inflamed or heated, suggesting that the real danger isn't just feeling upset, but letting that distress bubble into anger or impatience. So, the instruction isn't to ignore evildoers, but to avoid letting their temporary success ignite a destructive fire within your own spirit.
This Psalm, written by David, opens with a crucial instruction to the faithful: don't let the success of wicked people make you angry or jealous. David acknowledges that seeing evildoers prosper can be deeply troubling, even tempting the righteous to question God's justice and consider following their example. The Psalm immediately counters this by reminding the reader that this prosperity is fleeting, like grass that quickly withers.
Ever watch someone get ahead by cutting corners and feel a pang of resentment? This verse calls out that exact feeling.
The psalm starts by addressing two related emotions: 'fretting' and 'envying.'
These feelings are natural, even Aristotle noted our tendency to feel uneasy at undeserved prosperity. But the psalm doesn't say to ignore these feelings, but to check them. Giving in to them can lead to bitterness, questioning God's justice, and even a temptation to join them. The core issue is allowing the temporary success of others to disturb our trust in God's ultimate plan.
Why does the Bible so often compare the wicked's success to grass? There's a powerful lesson about perspective and time.
The immediate reason given for not fretting or envying is the transient nature of the wicked's prosperity.
Understand the original words
charah · Hebrew Verb
To burn with anger, heat, or passion; in this context, it refers to an agitation of heart or intense distress caused by observing the temporary success of the wicked.
mere'im · Hebrew Noun
People who habitually practice evil or violate the moral law of God; those who live in rebellion against the divine order.
qana' · Hebrew Verb
A feeling of resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or apparent prosperity; in a biblical context, it involves doubting God's justice.
Written during or reflecting upon times of significant turmoil and the unsettling prosperity of the wicked, like David's own reign or the exilic periods, this Psalm directly addresses the faithful's struggle to trust God's justice when evildoers seem to thrive.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Reign of David
David, the traditional author of this Psalm, faced numerous challenges from enemies and internal strife throughout his reign, experiencing firsthand the unsettling reality of wicked individuals often appearing to prosper.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Reign Begins
David's son Solomon succeeded him, inheriting a kingdom but also facing ongoing threats and the complexities of governing a nation where justice and wickedness often seemed intertwined.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and serving as a stark reminder of divine judgment against persistent unfaithfulness, a context that would have amplified the Psalm's message.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah fell to Babylon, its temple destroyed and its people exiled. This devastating event tested the faith of many, making the Psalm's encouragement to trust God amidst apparent injustice profoundly relevant.
This proverb directly echoes Psalm 37:1, warning believers not to envy oppressors or choose any shortcut to power, reinforcing the idea that the wicked's prosperity is not truly enviable.
Galatians 5:19-21This passage lists 'envy' as a work of the flesh, aligning with the Psalmist's caution against envy. It highlights that such desires lead away from God's kingdom, just as Psalm 37 contrasts righteous endurance with wicked downfall.
Psalm 73:2-14This Psalm provides a vivid account of the psalmist's struggle with envy over the prosperity of the wicked. His experience and eventual resolution strongly parallel and illuminate the initial warning given in Psalm 37:1.
Matthew 6:33Jesus' command to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness' directly addresses the heart of the issue in Psalm 37:1. By prioritizing God's kingdom, one naturally stops fretting over or envying worldly success.
calvinPsalms 37:1-6: "<<A Psalm of David.>> Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity."
- Fret not thyself because of the wicked, and be not envious at the workers of iniquity: 2. For they shall soon be cut down like grass; and they shall wither as the green and tender herb. 3. Put thy trust in Jehovah, and do good; dwell in the land, and be fed in truth, [or faithfully. [14] ] 4. And delight thyself in Jehovah, and he will give thee the desires o…
clarkePsalms 37:1: "A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity."
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 sm…
The Hebrew word translated "fret not" carries the sense of becoming inflamed or heated, suggesting that the real danger isn't just feeling upset, but letting that distress bubble into anger or impatience. So, the instruction isn't to ignore evildoers, but to avoid letting their temporary success ignite a destructive fire within your own spirit.
This Psalm, written by David, opens with a crucial instruction to the faithful: don't let the success of wicked people make you angry or jealous. David acknowledges that seeing evildoers prosper can be deeply troubling, even tempting the righteous to question God's justice and consider following their example. The Psalm immediately counters this by reminding the reader that this prosperity is fleeting, like grass that quickly withers.
This Psalm, written by David, opens with a crucial instruction to the faithful: don't let the success of wicked people make you angry or jealous. David acknowledges that seeing evildoers prosper can be deeply troubling, even tempting the righteous to question God's justice and consider following their example. The Psalm immediately counters this by reminding the reader that this prosperity is fleeting, like grass that quickly withers.
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"Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb." — The Hebrew word translated "fret not" carries the sense of becoming inflamed or heated, suggesting that the real danger isn't just feeling upset, but letting that distress bubble into anger or impati…
