Add parallel Print Page Options

35 I have seen ruthless, wicked people[a]
growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.[b]
36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared.[c]
I looked for them, but they could not be found.
37 Take note of the one who has integrity. Observe the upright.
For the one who promotes peace has a future.[d]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:35 tn The Hebrew uses the representative singular again here.
  2. Psalm 37:35 tn Heb “being exposed [?] like a native, luxuriant.” The Hebrew form מִתְעָרֶה (mitʿareh) appears to be a Hitpael participle from עָרָה (ʿarah, “be exposed”), but this makes no sense in this context. Perhaps the form is a dialectal variant of מִתְעָלָה (“giving oneself an air of importance”; see Jer 51:3), from עָלָה (ʿalah, “go up”; see P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50 [WBC], 296). The noun אֶזְרָח (ʾezrakh, “native, full citizen”) refers elsewhere to people, but here, where it is collocated with “luxuriant, green,” it probably refers to a tree growing in native soil.
  3. Psalm 37:36 tn Heb “and he passes by and, look, he is not [there].” The subject of the verb “passes by” is probably indefinite, referring to any passerby. Some prefer to change the form to first person, “and I passed by” (cf. NEB; note the first person verbal forms in preceding verse and in the following line).
  4. Psalm 37:37 tn Heb “for [there is] an end for a man of peace.” Some interpret אַחֲרִית (ʾakharit, “end”) as referring to offspring (see the next verse and Ps 109:13; cf. NEB, NRSV).

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing(A) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.(B)

37 Consider the blameless,(C) observe the upright;(D)
    a future awaits those who seek peace.[a](E)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity