New International Version
Psalms 37:8
8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends 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 make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
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 5:2Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Job 18:4You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
- Proverbs 14:29Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
- Proverbs 16:32Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
- Ephesians 4:26“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
- James 1:19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
- James 3:14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
- Psalms 31:22In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
- Psalms 73:15If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
- Psalms 116:11in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”
- 1 Samuel 25:21David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good.
- Jeremiah 20:14Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
- Jonah 4:1But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.
- Luke 9:54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy 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
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