CORPUS-PSALTERIUMVol. II
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Corpus Psalterium · Vol. II

Psalm XXXVII (37)

Didactic — Wisdom Instruction

Paul Whitehorn

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Psalm 37 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.

By David.

1

Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃

2

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃

3

Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

בְּטַ֣ח בַּֽ֭יהוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב שְׁכָן־אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃

4

Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל־יְהוָ֑ה וְיִֽתֶּן־לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃

5

Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

גּ֣וֹל עַל־יְהוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃

6

he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

וְהוֹצִ֣יא כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃

7

Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.

דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַיהוָה֮ וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל ל֥וֹ אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃

8

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.

הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃

9

For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.

כִּֽי־מְ֭רֵעִים יִכָּרֵת֑וּן וְקֹוֵ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה הֵ֣מָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃

10

For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.

וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃

11

But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם׃

12

The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק וְחֹרֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו שִׁנָּֽיו׃

13

The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק־ל֑וֹ כִּֽי־רָ֝אָ֗ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א יוֹמֽוֹ׃

14

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.

חֶ֤רֶב ׀ פָּֽתְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ וְדָרְכ֪וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃

15

Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.

חַ֭רְבָּם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם וְ֝קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֗ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃

16

Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃

17

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous.

כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהוָֽה׃

18

Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם לְעוֹלָ֥ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃

19

They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

לֹֽא־יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָ֑ה וּבִימֵ֖י רְעָב֣וֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃

20

But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.

כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ יֹאבֵ֗דוּ וְאֹיְבֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה כִּיקַ֣ר כָּרִ֑ים כָּל֖וּ בֶעָשָׁ֣ן כָּֽלוּ׃

21

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃

22

For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃

23

A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.

מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כּוֹנָ֗נוּ וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃

24

Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.

כִּֽי־יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא־יוּטָ֑ל כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ׃

25

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

נַ֤עַר ׀ הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם־זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי וְֽלֹא־רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃

26

All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃

27

Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֗וֹב וּשְׁכֹ֥ן לְעוֹלָֽם׃

28

For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

כִּ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב מִשְׁפָּ֗ט וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־חֲ֭סִידָיו לְעוֹלָ֣ם נִשְׁמָ֑רוּ וְזֶ֖רַע רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽת׃

29

The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃

30

The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

פִּֽי־צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

31

The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃

32

The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.

צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לַהֲמִיתוֹ׃

33

Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

יְ֭הוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ בְיָד֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃

34

Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

קַוֵּ֤ה אֶל־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וּשְׁמֹ֬ר דַּרְכּ֗וֹ וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אָ֑רֶץ בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃

35

I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

רָ֭אִיתִי רָשָׁ֣ע עָרִ֑יץ וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃

36

But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

וַ֭יַּֽעֲבֹר וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃

37

Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

שְׁמָר־תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר כִּֽי־אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃

38

As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה׃

39

But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת צַ֭דִּיקִים מֵיְהוָ֑ה מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗ם בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָֽה׃

40

Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.

וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם כִּי־חָ֥סוּ בֽוֹ׃

Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.

Do not burn

like fire

over the wicked

Do not envy

those who do wrong

They fade

like grass

they wither

quickly

Trust

in the LORD

Do good

Stay in the land

feed on faithfulness

Delight yourself

in the LORD

He will give you

the desires

of your heart

“Desires of your heart…”

Commit your way

to the LORD

Trust Him

He will act

He will bring forth

your righteousness

like the light

your justice

like noon

Be still

before the LORD

Wait

Do not burn

when others succeed

Do not burn

when they carry out evil

“Do not burn…”

“Wait…”

“Be still…”

Let go

of anger

Leave wrath

Do not burn

it leads only

to harm

The wicked

will be cut off

But those who wait

inherit

the land

“Inherit the land?”

In a little while

the wicked

are gone

You look

for them

they are not there

But the humble

inherit the land

They delight

in peace

The wicked plot

against the righteous

They grind

their teeth

But the Lord

laughs

He sees

their day

coming

They draw swords

They bend bows

to bring down

the poor

But their swords

enter

their own hearts

Their bows

are broken

“Broken”

“Broken”

“Better a little”

“Better a little”

Better

a little

with the righteous

than abundance

with the wicked

The arms

of the wicked

will break

But the LORD

supports

the righteous

“I was young… now I am old…”

I was young

now I am old

I have never seen

the righteous forsaken

or his children

begging for bread

Turn from evil

Do good

Stay

forever

The LORD loves justice

He does not abandon

His faithful ones

The righteous

inherit the land

They dwell

forever

The law of God

in their heart

Their steps

do not slip

Wait

for the LORD

Keep His way

He will lift you up

to inherit the land

You will see

the wicked

cut off

The salvation

of the righteous

is from the LORD

He is their strength

in trouble

He helps them

He delivers them

because

they take refuge

in Him

Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.

Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.

About these songs. They are a summary and a commentary on the Psalms, not a word-for-word translation. Read what these songs are →

What These Songs Are, and What They Are Not

These songs are not a word-for-word translation of the Psalms. They were never meant to be. Nor do they try to capture every idea in every psalm. In a song, that would be impossible.

What we have done is capture the essence of each psalm: what matters most in it. Think of each song as a summary. Think of it as a cheat sheet. The purpose of the psalm is still being met. God's word to mankind is still being heard.

Behind many of these lines is word research: deep study of the meaning of the Hebrew. So where a line sounds different from your translation, and you think it is wrong, study it. We believe you will find that the essence of what we sing is true.

The truth is that no one can set the Psalms to music without also becoming a commentator. That is what this is. It is a modern commentary on the Psalms: not only the Psalms themselves, and not only the Psalms being sung. So do not think that every word of the psalm is here. It is not. Read the psalm itself, in full.

Why do this at all? Because we believe God intended humanity to be surrounded by His word. This was always the entertainment He wanted us to have: not hours of television, not a day lost in a phone looking at nonsense. The blessed man of Psalm 1 meditates on God's word day and night. How can we meditate on His word if we do not surround ourselves with it?

As ministers, our first responsibility is to share God's word with people. That is what these songs are for.

Paul Whitehorn