A Psalm of David. This psalm, it is very probable, was written at the same time, and upon the same occasion, with the former; and describes the different states of good and bad men; and is full of exhortations, instructions, and advice to the people of God; intermixed with various encouraging…

Fret not thyself because of evildoers The saints may be grieved at them and for them, because of their evil doings, and may be angry with them for them; yet are not to show any undue warmth, at least in an indecent way, by calling them opprobrious names; for the words may be rendered, “do not show…

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. ] Which in the morning looks green, pretty, and flourishing, and in the evening is cut down, and then fades away; see (Ps. 90:5, Ps.

Trust in the Lord Not in men, who are fading and perishing like the green grass and tender herb; nor in riches, which are very uncertain things; but in the Lord, in whom is everlasting strength; and with whom are riches and honour, yea, durable riches and righteousness; trust in him both for things…

Delight thyself also in the Lord In the persons in God, Father, Son, and Spirit; in the perfections of God, his power, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, love, grace, and mercy; in his works of creation, providence, and redemption; in his word, his Gospel, the truths and ordinances of it; in his…

Commit thy way unto the Lord Or “thy works”, as in ; that is, all the affairs and business of life, which are a man’s ways in which he walks; not that men should sit still, be inactive, and do nothing, and leave all to be done by the Lord; but should seek direction of God in everything engaged in,…

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light That is, the good man having committed his cause to him that judgeth righteously, he will, in his own time, clearly make it appear that it is a righteous one, both to himself and others, in whatsoever obscurity it may have lain; and thy…

Rest in the Lord Or “be silent to the Lord” [[14]]; be still, and know that he is God; quietly submit to his will, and acquiesce in all the dispensations of his providence: it does not design a stupid indolence, or a stoical apathy, that we should be like sticks and stones, without any concern at…

Cease from anger Either at these wicked men who are so prosperous, or at God, who for the present suffers it; see ; and forsake wrath; which is anger wrought up to a greater degree; and the rather to be shunned and avoided, as being very disagreeable to the character of a good man; fret not thyself…

For evildoers shall be cut off Though they flourish for a while, they shall be cut down like the grass or flower of the field, or they shall be cut off as branches from a flourishing tree; they shall be cut off from the earth, and rooted out of it by death or some desolating judgment; see ; and…

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be Not that they shall be annihilated or reduced to nothing, because nonentities have no place nor being any where; when they die they shall lift up their eyes in hell; their bodies will rise again at the last day; they shall stand before the…

But the meek shall inherit the earth (See Gill on Ps. 37:9); of this character (See Gill on Ps. 22:26). Our Lord seems to refer to this passage in ; and shall delight themselves is the abundance of peace; of spiritual peace enjoyed in a way of believing, arising from a comfortable view of interest…

The wicked plotteth against the just Forms schemes to make him uneasy, uncomfortable, and unhappy: and gnasheth upon him with his teeth: which expresses his malice and hatred, as David’s enemies did upon him, ; and Stephen’s, .

The Lord shall laugh at him Have him and his plots in derision, confound his schemes, and disappoint him of his designs, bring him into calamity, and laugh at it; see ; for he seeth that his day is coming; either the day of the Lord, which he has appointed to judge the world in, and which comes…

The wicked have drawn out the sword That is, out of the scabbard; they drew upon the righteous, in order to sheath it in them; or they sharpened the sword, as Aben Ezra observes some interpret the word; it may be literally rendered, “opened the sword” [[15]], which before lay hid in the scabbard:…

Their sword shall enter into their own heart As Saul’s did into his, ; and their bows shall be broken; the meaning is, that their efforts shall be fruitless, and their attempts in vain; the mischief they have contrived and designed for others shall fall upon themselves; see ; and therefore the…

A little that a righteous man hath It is the portion of the righteous, for the most part, to have but little of this world’s goods; some indeed have been rich, as Abraham, Lot, David, Joseph of Arimathea, and others; but, generally speaking, the wicked have the largest share of worldly things, and…

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken That is, their sword arm, with which they have drawn it; and so shall not be able to strike with it; and with which they have bent their bows, but shall not be able to shoot: and this proves, what is before suggested, that their efforts shall be fruitless;…

The Lord knoweth the days of the upright Not only how long they shall live, and so fill up their days, the number of them, as Aben Ezra interprets it; but the nature of their days, whether prosperous or adverse; and causes both to work together for their good; and he knows the work of their days,…

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time Of affliction and persecution, or of old age, or in the day of judgment, when it will go ill with others; see ; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied: whether it is understood figuratively of a famine of hearing the word, or literally of a…

But the wicked shall perish In a time of famine, in an evil day, and particularly at the day of judgment: for this is to be understood, not merely of being in bodily distress and want; nor of perishing by death, common to the righteous and the wicked; nor of being in a lost perishing condition, as…

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again While the wicked live, they are scandalous; they live by borrowing, which was always reckoned mean; see (Deut. 28:12, Deut.

For such as be blessed of him Not of the righteous man; for he blesses them that curse and persecute him, and despitefully use him; but of the Lord, as the Syriac version expresses it; or by the Word of the Lord, as the Targum; both in a providential way, for it is the blessing of the Lord that…

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord Or “of a man” [[21]]; such a man as is blessed of the Lord; the steps which he takes in life are ordered by the Lord, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual: his good conduct is not of himself, it is a blessing of the Lord, who directs and…

Though he fall Into temptation, and by it into sins, and these very great ones; from a lively and comfortable exercise of grace, and a degree of steadfastness in the doctrine of grace: he shall not be utterly cast down; because he is in the arms of everlasting love, and in the hands of Christ…

I have been young, and now am old The psalmist makes mention of his age, which takes in the whole compass of his life, to command attention to what he was about to say; which was founded upon a long experience and observation of things, and was as follows; yet have I not seen the righteous…

He is ever merciful, and lendeth He sympathizes with the poor in distress, and shows mercy to miserable objects; not only by words, but deeds: and this is his constant disposition and conduct; of which his lending, as well as giving to persons in necessity, is an instance; and which shows capacity,…

Depart from evil, and do good Depart from evildoers, and their evil ways; join not with them, nor fret and be envious at them; but do acts of beneficence, and all good works; since righteous men, and their seed, are not forsaken, but blessed of God; (See Gill on Ps.

For the Lord loveth judgment Righteousness, or righteous actions, when done according to his will, from love, in faith, and to his glory; see ; or to minister judgment to the people, and to render to every man according to his works; and forsaketh not his saints; his Holy Ones, who are called with…

The righteous shall inherit the land (See Gill on Ps. 37:9) and (See Gill on Ps. 37:11); and dwell therein for ever; (See Gill on Ps. 37:27).

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom Or “meditateth wisdom” [[0]]; that is, utters the wisdom he has been meditating upon; see ; he meditates and speaks of the wisdom of God, which appears in the works of creation, providence, and grace; and of Christ, who is wisdom itself, and the wisdom of…

The law of his God is in his heart Which may be understood of the moral law, which was written in the heart of Adam an his creation, and continued there during his state of innocence, but was greatly obliterated by sin: there are some remains of it in fallen man, even in the very Gentiles; who,…

The wicked watcheth the righteous All his motions and steps, his works and actions; he watches for his halting, and to take all opportunities and advantages against him; see ; and seeketh to slay him; murder his reputation, destroy his substance, and take away his life: some understand it of the…

The Lord will not leave him in his hand Or power; but will in his own time deliver him from all the reproach, affliction, and persecution endures by him; as he will also deliver him out of all the temptations of Satan; nor condemn him when he is judged; by the wicked man: he will not join in the…

Wait on the Lord In the way of his appointments and ordinances; where may be learned the design of his providences, and of the prosperity of the wicked, and their end, ; and in a providential way, for the performance of his promises, in which he never fails; and patiently bear whatever he is…

I have seen the wicked in great power Meaning some particular person invested with great power, in great authority among men, one of the spiritual wickednesses in high places; such a man as Haman in Ahasuerus’s court; and though the psalmist does not choose to mention his name, he doubtless had him…

Yet he passed away At once, on a sudden; either his riches and honour, which, in one hour, came to nought, by one providence or another; or he himself by death; in the midst of all his prosperity, and while blessing himself in it, his soul was required of him; and so the Targum is, “he ceased from…

Mark the perfect man None are so in themselves, not the most holy man upon earth; for though all grace is implanted at once in regeneration, the seed of grace of every kind is cast into the heart at once; yet it opens and spreads, and gradually increases; nor is any grace in its exercise perfect;…

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together This is to be understood of obstinate and continued transgressors, who live and die in their transgressions; see ; otherwise all men are transgressors in Adam, and sinned and fell with him in his transgression; and are justly called transgressors…

But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord Both their temporal, spiritual, and eternal salvation; particularly the latter, which is originally of the Lord, and springs from the thoughts, purposes, and resolutions of his heart: it is of him freely, of his rich grace and abundant mercy; and it…

And the Lord shall help them In their distress, and out of their troubles, when none else can, and they themselves cannot; and that seasonably, and sometimes with means, and sometimes without; and deliver them; out of all their afflictions, which he does sooner or later; if not in life, yet at…