In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes not just the wicked's end, but the completeness of their disappearance. It’s so absolute that even when you actively search for where they were, you won't find a trace – a powerful image of utter oblivion.
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is addressing those who are troubled by the apparent success of wicked people, urging them not to be envious or angry. He advises them to rest in the Lord and wait patiently, contrasting the temporary prosperity of the ungodly with the lasting inheritance of the meek. This verse assures the faithful that the wicked's reign is fleeting, and soon their presence and influence will vanish completely, even from their former strongholds.
Ever feel like the wicked are winning? Like their schemes always succeed and justice never comes? This verse offers a radical perspective shift.
Psalms 37:10 declares with certainty: 'In just a little while, the wicked will be no more.' This isn't wishful thinking; it's a divine promise. The psalm is written to comfort believers who are distressed by the apparent prosperity and unchecked power of the ungodly. The author acknowledges the temptation to envy them or become angry, but he points to a future reality where their influence will vanish. The phrase 'in just a little while' emphasizes the brevity of their dominance. Their success is temporary, a facade that will soon crumble. The message is clear: wickedness may seem powerful now, but its reign is finite.
Imagine searching for someone who once held immense power, only to find absolutely no trace of them. This verse paints a vivid picture of utter disappearance.
The second part of the verse, 'though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there,' amplifies the certainty of the wicked's demise. It suggests a thorough investigation, a diligent search for their former stronghold, their position, or even their legacy, only to find nothing. This isn't just about death; it's about complete erasure from influence and relevance. Their 'place' – their power, their platform, their prosperity – will be gone. This speaks to the ultimate judgment and the complete reversal of fortunes promised in God's justice. The transient nature of their power means their legacy will fade, and their 'place' will become vacant, leaving no lasting mark.
Understand the original words
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rasha · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Individuals who are ethically or spiritually corrupt, characterized by their rejection of God's ways and their subsequent instability and coming judgment.
This psalm was likely composed during or after periods of exile, grappling with the apparent prosperity of oppressors and the suffering of God's people. The promise that the wicked will soon vanish offers comfort and perspective during times of national crisis and displacement.
c. 1000 BC
Davidic Kingdom Flourishes
Under King David and his son Solomon, the unified Israelite kingdom reached its zenith of power, influence, and prosperity, often marked by military victories and extensive building projects.
c. 931 BC
Israel Splits into Two Kingdoms
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom fractured into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, leading to increased internal strife and external vulnerability.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants and scattering them throughout the empire. This event served as a stark warning to Judah.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, besieged Jerusalem and deported thousands of Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces razed Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, bringing the Kingdom of Judah to an end and exiling the remaining population to Babylon, a period of profound national trauma.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrew the Babylonian Empire. His subsequent decree allowed exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
After returning from exile, the Judeans, though fewer in number and in a less politically powerful state, successfully rebuilt and rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Psalm 37:10 by describing how those who have passed away will not return, emphasizing the finality of death and the transient nature of life.
Matthew 13:40-43Jesus' parable about the weeds and the wheat provides a powerful parallel, illustrating how at the end of the age, the wicked (weeds) will be separated and removed, while the righteous (wheat) will endure.
Revelation 18:10This passage describes the judgment of a great, wicked city, proclaiming that it will be completely destroyed and disappear, reinforcing the idea that the place and power of the wicked are ultimately temporary.
Romans 16:20Paul assures believers that God will soon crush Satan under their feet, showing that the ultimate victory over wickedness is divinely ordained and will bring an end to its oppressive influence.
calvinPsalms 37:7-11: "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
- Be silent to Jehovah, and wait for him; fret not because of the man who prospereth in his way, against the man who commits wickedness. [23] 8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself so as to do evil, 9. For the wicked shall be cut off; but those that wait upon Jehovah shall inherit the earth. 10. Yet…
clarkePsalms 37:10: "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be."
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be - A prediction of the destruction of Babylon. This empire was now in its splendor; and the captives lived to see it totally overturned by Cyrus, so that even the shadow of its power did not remain. Thou shalt diligently consider his place - ואיננו veeynennu, and he is not. The ruler is killed; the city is ta…
The verse emphasizes not just the wicked's end, but the completeness of their disappearance. It’s so absolute that even when you actively search for where they were, you won't find a trace – a powerful image of utter oblivion.
The psalmist is addressing those who are troubled by the apparent success of wicked people, urging them not to be envious or angry. He advises them to rest in the Lord and wait patiently, contrasting the temporary prosperity of the ungodly with the lasting inheritance of the meek. This verse assures the faithful that the wicked's reign is fleeting, and soon their presence and influence will vanish completely, even from their former strongholds.
The psalmist is addressing those who are troubled by the apparent success of wicked people, urging them not to be envious or angry. He advises them to rest in the Lord and wait patiently, contrasting the temporary prosperity of the ungodly with the lasting inheritance of the meek. This verse assures the faithful that the wicked's reign is fleeting, and soon their presence and influence will vanish completely, even from their former strongholds.
"In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there." — The verse emphasizes not just the wicked's end, but the completeness of their disappearance. It’s so absolute that even when you actively search for where they were, you won't find a trace – a po…
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Last reviewed October 2026