Psalms 37:1
in Psalms 37Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.
KJV
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
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This verse in Psalms 37
Commentary
5 notes on this verseNot infrequently good people, seeing others arrive at riches and honors by fraud and trickery, become green with jealousy and want to imitate them. They, too, are tempted to attain riches and fame by similar tricks and malpractices.… Do not be an imitator of wrongdoing and fraud. Rather, be an imitator of apostolic doctrine, of prophetic grace and of the virtue of the saints. Then you will bear fruit and reap the harvest of your good deeds.
This site's exposition
Do not fret over
on Psalms 37:1-2
Fretting and envy are both forbidden. The Hebrew behind fret means to glow or grow warm, the heat that blazes up into anger. Verse 2 answers with grass and tender plants that wither quickly, the whole span of the wicked man's flourishing.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
on Psalms 37:1-2
Fretfulness and envy are sins that are their own punishments; they are the uneasiness of the spirit and the rottenness of the bones; it is therefore in kindness to ourselves that we are warned against them.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The Psalm opens with the first precept. It is alas! too common for believers in their hours of adversity to think themselves harshly dealt with when they see persons utterly destitute of religion and honesty, rejoicing in abundant prosperity. Much needed is the command, Fret not thyself because of evildoers. To fret is to worry, to have the heartburn, to fume, to become vexed.
Modern Voices1 voice
That hit home with me because I was doing a lot of fretting and it wasn't helping my spiritual life.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Do not compete with the evildoers He reproves Israel that they should not compete with the success of the evildoers to do as their deeds, as (in Jer.:5): “how will you compete (תתחרה) with horses,” to run as they run, a atir in Old French, to compete.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּתְחַ֥ר | titchar | you fret yourself | H2734 → | 91 times |
| בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים | bamereim | in the evil-doers | H7489 → | 107 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א | tekane' | you be jealous | H7065 → | 34 times |
| בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י | beosei | of [those who] do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עַוְלָֽה׃ | ʾavlah | <of> unrighteousness | H5766 → | 54 times |
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תִּתְחַ֥רyou fret yourself
titcharH2734 →91 times
בַּמְּרֵעִ֑יםin the evil-doers
bamereimH7489 →107 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗אyou be jealous
tekane'H7065 →34 times
בְּעֹשֵׂ֥יof [those who] do
beoseiH6213 →2628 times
עַוְלָֽה׃<of> unrighteousness
ʾavlahH5766 →54 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
it leads to
- Psalms 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
- James 5:7–11
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- Psalms 62:5
Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.
- Hebrews 10:36–37
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- Lamentations 3:25–26
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
- Psalms 27:14
Through
Proverbs 24:1Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
it leads to
- Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 23:17
Through
Proverbs 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
it leads to
- Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
- Proverbs 28:14
Through
Proverbs 3:31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
it leads to
- Proverbs 24:1
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
- Proverbs 24:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Ambrose of Milan, COMMENTARY ON TWELVE PSALMS 37:11; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 2; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Psalms; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and R. C. Sproul, A Letter to a Discouraged Pastor.