Psaume 37

1 Psaume de David. Ne t'irrite pas contre les méchants; ne porte pas envie à ceux qui font le mal.

2 Car ils seront bientôt fauchés comme l'herbe; ils se faneront comme l'herbe verte.

3 Confie-toi en l'Éternel, et fais le bien; habite la terre, et fais de la vérité ta pâture.

4 Et prends ton plaisir en l'Éternel, et il t'accordera les demandes de ton cœur.

5 Remets ta voie à l'Éternel et te confie en lui, et il agira.

6 Il fera ressortir ta justice comme la lumière, et ton droit comme le plein midi.

7 Demeure tranquille en regardant à l'Éternel, et t'attends à lui; ne t'irrite pas contre celui qui vient à bout de ses desseins.

8 Réprime la colère, et laisse l'emportement; ne t'irrite point pour mal faire.

9 Car ceux qui font le mal seront retranchés, mais ceux qui s'attendent à l'Éternel posséderont la terre.

10 Encore un peu de temps et le méchant ne sera plus; tu considéreras sa place, et il ne sera plus.

11 Mais les débonnaires posséderont la terre, et jouiront d'une paix abondante.

12 Le méchant machine contre le juste, et grince les dents contre lui.

13 Le Seigneur se rira de lui, car il voit que son jour approche.

14 Les méchants ont tiré l'épée et bandé leur arc, pour abattre l'affligé et le pauvre, pour égorger ceux qui suivent la droite voie.

15 Leur épée entrera dans leur cœur, et leurs arcs seront brisés.

16 Mieux vaut le peu du juste que l'abondance de plusieurs méchants.

17 Car les bras des méchants seront brisés, mais l'Éternel soutient les justes.

18 L'Éternel connaît les jours des gens intègres, et leur héritage subsistera toujours.

19 Ils ne seront pas confus au temps du malheur; ils seront rassasiés aux jours de la famine.

20 Car les méchants périront, et les ennemis de l'Éternel seront consumés comme la graisse des agneaux; ils périront, ils s'en iront en fumée.

21 Le méchant emprunte, et ne rend pas; mais le juste a compassion, et il donne.

22 Car ceux qu'il bénit hériteront la terre, mais ceux qu'il maudit seront retranchés.

23 Les pas de l'homme de bien sont affermis par l'Éternel, et il prend plaisir à sa voie.

24 S'il tombe, il ne sera pas entièrement abattu, car l'Éternel lui soutient la main.

25 J'ai été jeune, et je suis devenu vieux; mais je n'ai point vu le juste abandonné, ni sa postérité mendiant son pain.

26 Tous les jours il a compassion et il prête, et sa postérité est bénie.

27 Détourne-toi du mal et fais le bien, et tu demeureras à toujours.

28 Car l'Éternel aime la justice, et il n'abandonne pas ses bien-aimés; ils sont gardés à jamais, mais la postérité des méchants est retranchée.

29 Les justes posséderont la terre, et y demeureront à perpétuité.

30 La bouche du juste profère la sagesse, et sa langue prononce ce qui est droit.

31 La loi de son Dieu est dans son cœur; ses pas ne chancelleront point.

32 Le méchant épie le juste, et cherche à le faire mourir.

33 L'Éternel ne le laissera pas en son pouvoir, et ne le condamnera pas quand il sera jugé.

34 Attends-toi à l'Éternel, et observe sa voie; il t'élèvera pour posséder la terre; les méchants seront retranchés à tes yeux.

35 J'ai vu le méchant terrible et s'étendant comme un arbre vigoureux.

36 Mais il a passé, et voici, il n'est plus; je l'ai cherché: il ne se trouve plus.

37 Observe l'homme intègre, et considère l'homme droit; car il y a un avenir pour l'homme de paix.

38 Mais les rebelles sont entièrement détruits; l'avenir des méchants est retranché.

39 La délivrance des justes vient de l'Éternel; il est leur force au temps de la détresse.

40 L'Éternel les aide et les délivre; il les délivre des méchants et les sauve, parce qu'ils se sont confiés en lui.

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Psaume 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the state of the godly and of the wicked.

Verses 1-6 When we look abroad we see the world full of evil-doers, that flourish and live in ease. So it was seen of old, therefore let us not marvel at the matter. We are tempted to fret at this, to think them the only happy people, and so we are prone to do like them: but this we are warned against. Outward prosperity is fading. When we look forward, with an eye of faith, we shall see no reason to envy the wicked. Their weeping and wailing will be everlasting. The life of religion is a believing trust in the Lord, and diligent care to serve him according to his will. It is not trusting God, but tempting him, if we do not make conscience of our duty to him. A man's life consists not in abundance, but, Thou shalt have food convenient for thee. This is more than we deserve, and it is enough for one that is going to heaven. To delight in God is as much a privilege as a duty. He has not promised to gratify the appetites of the body, and the humours of the fancy, but the desires of the renewed, sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and serve God. Commit thy way unto the Lord; roll thy way upon the Lord, so the margin reads it. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, the burden of thy care. We must roll it off ourselves, not afflict and perplex ourselves with thoughts about future events, but refer them to God. By prayer spread thy case and all thy cares before the Lord, and trust in him. We must do our duty, and then leave the event with God. The promise is very sweet: He shall bring that to pass, whatever it is, which thou has committed to him.

Verses 7-20 Let us be satisfied that God will make all to work for good to us. Let us not discompose ourselves at what we see in this world. A fretful, discontented spirit is open to many temptations. For, in all respects, the little which is allotted to the righteous, is more comfortable and more profitable than the ill-gotten and abused riches of ungodly men. It comes from a hand of special love. God provides plentifully and well, not only for his working servants, but for his waiting servants. They have that which is better than wealth, peace of mind, peace with God, and then peace in God; that peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot have. God knows the believer's days. Not one day's work shall go unrewarded. Their time on earth is reckoned by days, which will soon be numbered; but heavenly happiness shall be for ever. This will be a real support to believers in evil times. Those that rest on the Rock of ages, have no reason to envy the wicked the support of their broken reeds.

Verses 21-33 The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.

Verses 34-40 Duty is ours, and we must mind it; but events are God's, we must refer the disposal of them to him. What a striking ( psalms 37:35-36 ) But God remarkably blights the projects of the prosperous wicked, especially persecutors. None are perfect in themselves, but believers are so in Christ Jesus. If all the saint's days continue dark and cloudy, his dying day may prove comfortable, and his sun set bright; or, if it should set under a cloud, yet his future state will be everlasting peace. The salvation of the righteous will be the Lord's doing. He will help them to do their duties, to bear their burdens; help them to bear their troubles well, and get good by them, and, in due time, will deliver them out of their troubles. Let sinners then depart from evil, and do good; repent of and forsake sin, and trust in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. Let them take his yoke upon them, and learn of him, that they may dwell for evermore in heaven. Let us mark the closing scenes of different characters, and always depend on God's mercy.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 37

\\<<[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 promises. A late learned writer {h} thinks it was written for Mephibosheth's consolation under Ziba's calumny. {h} Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 2. p. 219.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible