English Standard Version
Psalms 37:1
1Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
Psalms 37:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
Context of Psalms 37:1
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Read all of Psalms 37Psalms 37:1 word by word
אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 37:1
- 1 Samuel 1:6And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
- Proverbs 19:3When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.
- Proverbs 24:1Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,
- Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Proverbs 3:31Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
- Proverbs 23:17Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
- Galatians 5:21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- James 4:5Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
Commentaries on Psalms 37:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Fret 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 small condescension in the Almighty to reason with such persons as he does in this Psalm.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Fret not thyself - The Hebrew word here means properly to burn, to be kindled, to be inflamed, and is often applied to anger, as if under its influence we become “heated:” Genesis 31:36; Genesis 34:7; 1 Samuel 15:11; 2 Samuel 19:43. Hence, it means to fret oneself, to be angry, or indignant. Compare Proverbs 24:19. We should perhaps express the same idea by the word “worrying” or “chafing.” The state of mind is that where we are worried, or envious…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the state of the godly and of the wicked. Verses 1-6 When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are prone to do like them: but this we are warned against. Outward prosperity is fading. When we look forward, with an…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1envy: The jealous desire to have what others enjoy leads to further sin (Psalm 73:3; Proverbs 3:31; James 1:14–15; 4:1–2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-401-2. 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.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 37:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries