English Standard Version
Psalms 37:8
8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Psalms 37:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
- New International Version (NIV)Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.
Context of Psalms 37:8
6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
Read all of Psalms 37Psalms 37:8 word by word
הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 37:8
- Job 5:2Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
- Job 18:4You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place?
- Proverbs 14:29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
- Proverbs 16:32Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
- Ephesians 4:26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
- James 1:19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
- James 3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
- Psalms 31:22I had said in my alarm, "I am cut off from your sight." But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.
- Psalms 73:15If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
- Psalms 116:11I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."
- 1 Samuel 25:21Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good.
- Jeremiah 20:14Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed!
- Jonah 4:1But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
- Luke 9:54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"
Commentaries on Psalms 37:8
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Cease from anger - That is, in reference to the fact that there are wicked people, and that they are permitted to carry out their plans. Do not allow your mind to be excited with envious, fretful, wrathful, or murmuring feelings against God because he bears patiently with them, and because they are allowed a temporary prosperity and triumph. Be calm, whatever may be the wickedness of the world. The supreme direction belongs to God, and he will dispose of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-20Verses 7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Irritability and anger can quickly damage a person’s character. When someone becomes easily upset or angry, it affects the way that person thinks and acts. Over time, this can weaken good habits and harm relationships. Learning patience and self-control helps protect and strengthen character.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-87-8. Rest in--literally, "Be silent to the Lord." and wait--Be submissive--avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 37:8
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