Psalms 37:1
Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
BSB
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.
Not 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.
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 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.
That hit home with me because I was doing a lot of fretting and it wasn't helping my spiritual life.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
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.
leads to
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
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.
Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him.
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
Through
Proverbs 24:1Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
leads to
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
Reached by 3 independent paths from here.
Through
Proverbs 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
leads to
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Through
Proverbs 3:31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
leads to
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
