Psalm 37 Text

From Psalms: Layer by Layer
Psalm 37/Text
Jump to: navigation, search
  Choose a Psalm  Navigate Psalm 37

Listen & Read: Psalm 37

Read along and listen to our audio recordings for Psalm 37. Choose between simple, unaffected audio recordings (in Hebrew or English), or a dramatized reading that takes into account our emotional and discourse analyses. You can also choose between a text-only view, or a view overlaid with our summary At-a-Glance, Expanded Paraphrase, or Participant Analysis tracking.

Text Only (Hebrew and English) The text below is divided according to the psalm's poetic lines. For additional information, see our Poetic Structure layer.

Text (Hebrew) Verse Text (CBC) The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.
׀
1a
David
אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר
1b
about those who act wickedly;
עַוְלָֽה׃
1c
not
כֶ֭ יִמָּ֑לוּ
2a
wither like grass,
וּ דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃
2b
and green leaves on plants.
3a
Trust and
שְׁכָן־ וּרְעֵ֥ה
3b
Reside in graze
4a
then
ךָ׃
4b
desires. you will
גּ֣וֹל דַּרְכֶּ֑
5a
to your Commit
וּבְטַ֥ח וְ
5b
and him,
וְ כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ
6a
like make will
כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃
6b
justice your will
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַ
7a
him! and silent Be
בְּ דַּרְכּ֑
7b
successful, way his makes get
מְזִמּֽוֹת׃
7c
out
אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב
8a
wrath and of Let
אַל־ הָרֵֽעַ׃
8b
to upset, get
מְ֭רֵעִים
9a
be will
וְ אָֽרֶץ׃
9b
in
מְ֭עַט אֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע
10a
will
וְ מְקוֹמ֣וֹ נּוּ׃
10b
there. be and place at you And
וַ
11a
וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב
11b
delight
רָ֭שָׁע
12a
righteous plotting
12b
him. teeth grinding
אֲדֹנָ֥י ל֑
13a
him, Lord
כִּֽי־ יוֹמֽ
13b
come. time because
׀
14a
קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם
14b
bows their
הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י
14c
and afflicted who the down order in
לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־
14d
is conduct those slaughter order in
תָּב֣וֹא ם
15a
own go will swords
15b
broken. be
טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַ
16a
better is to A
16b
wicked many the than
כִּ֤י תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה
17a
will wicked the arms the
יְהוָֽה׃
17b
the upholding is YHWH but
יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם
18a
the
וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם עוֹלָ֥ם
18b
יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת
19a
hard to not They
19b
they and
כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀
20a
will
וְ כִּיקַ֣ר
20b
in like perish] YHWH’s and
כָּל֖וּ
20c
like
רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם
21a
is The
וְ֝ וְנוֹתֵֽן׃
21b
righteous
כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו
22a
the possess will by blessed those
וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃
22b
cursed and
23a
steadfast steps When
דַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃
23b
with will
כִּֽי־ לֹֽא־
24a
he he
סוֹמֵ֥ךְ
24b
hand. supporting YHWH
נַ֤עַר ׀ גַּם־
25a
old, am a I
רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב
25b
person righteous seen have
זַרְע֗וֹ
25c
for his or
כָּל־ חוֹנֵ֣ן
26a
always
וְ֝זַרְע֗
26b
a his
ס֣וּר רָע
27a
good, and from
עוֹלָֽם׃
27b
forever! will
׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב
28a
justice, YHWH
לֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־
28b
him. to are
נִשְׁמָדוּ*
28c
Wrong-doers
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
28d
wicked of the and
29a
the possess The
לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃
29b
and
יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה
30a
wise, what utters person’s righteous
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗
30b
speaks his and
תּוֹרַ֣ת וֹ
31a
his is God instruction
לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָי
31b
not steps
רָ֭שָׁע
32a
righteous watching
הֲמִיתֽ
32b
kill
יְ֭הוָה נּוּ וֹ
33a
hand, his him not will
לֹ֥א
33b
into enters as condemned him let will
דַּרְכּ֗וֹ
34a
way, his YHWH in
וִֽ֭ךָ
34b
you and
בְּ
34c
You
רָשָׁ֣ע
35a
wicked saw I
וּ֝ כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃
35b
like
וְ נּוּ*
36a
gone; and get by,
וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ
36b
not and him, looked
וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר
37a
upright the at and one, blameless to attention
37b
is [blameless]
נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו
38a
exterminated! completely are who those But
38b
destroyed! is wicked of
צַ֭דִּיקִים יְהוָ֑ה
39a
YHWH, from
ם צָרָֽה׃
39b
of
וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה יְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥
40a
them YHWH and
יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם וְם
40b
will
כִּי־
40c
refuge they

Structure Overlay Below, the text has been overlaid with our summary structural analysis. For details on the structure, see the Structure At-a-Glance here.

Hebrew Verse Close-but-clear
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ 1a By David
אַל־תִּתְחַ֥ר בַּמְּרֵעִ֑ים 1b Do not get upset about those who act wickedly;
אַל־תְּ֝קַנֵּ֗א בְּעֹשֵׂ֥י עַוְלָֽה׃ 1c Do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
כִּ֣י כֶ֭חָצִיר מְהֵרָ֣ה יִמָּ֑לוּ 2a For they will soon wither like grass,
וּכְיֶ֥רֶק דֶּ֝֗שֶׁא יִבּוֹלֽוּן׃ 2b and they will fade like green leaves on plants.
בְּטַ֣ח בַּֽ֭יהוָה וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב 3a Trust in YHWH and do good!
שְׁכָן־אֶ֝֗רֶץ וּרְעֵ֥ה אֱמוּנָֽה׃ 3b Reside in the land and graze securely!
וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג עַל־יְהוָ֑ה 4a And then you will delight yourself in YHWH,
וְיִֽתֶּן־לְ֝ךָ֗ מִשְׁאֲלֹ֥ת לִבֶּֽךָ׃ 4b and he will give you your heart’s desires.
גּ֣וֹל עַל־יְהוָ֣ה דַּרְכֶּ֑ךָ 5a Commit your way to YHWH,
וּבְטַ֥ח עָ֝לָ֗יו וְה֣וּא יַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ 5b and trust in him, and he will act,
וְהוֹצִ֣יא כָא֣וֹר צִדְקֶ֑ךָ 6a and he will make your righteousness known like the light
וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטֶ֗ךָ כַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃ 6b and [he will make] your justice [known] like midday.
דּ֤וֹם ׀ לַיהוָה֮ וְהִתְח֪וֹלֵ֫ל ל֥וֹ 7a Be silent before YHWH and wait for him!
אַל־תִּ֭תְחַר בְּמַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכּ֑וֹ 7b Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful,
בְּ֝אִ֗ישׁ עֹשֶׂ֥ה מְזִמּֽוֹת׃ 7c about a person carrying out schemes.
הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה 8a Let go of anger and leave wrath behind!
אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃ 8b Do not get upset, only to act wickedly!
כִּֽי־מְ֭רֵעִים יִכָּרֵת֑וּן 9a For those who act wickedly will be destroyed;
וְקֹוֵ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה הֵ֣מָּה יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָֽרֶץ׃ 9b but those who hope in YHWH—they will possess the land.
וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע 10a And just a little bit longer, and the wicked person will be gone;
וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל־מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ 10b And you will look closely at the place where he was, and he will not be there.
וַעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ 11a But the humble will possess the land
וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ עַל־רֹ֥ב שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 11b and delight themselves in great prosperity.
זֹמֵ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק 12a The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person
וְחֹרֵ֖ק עָלָ֣יו שִׁנָּֽיו׃ 12b and grinding his teeth at him.
אֲדֹנָ֥י יִשְׂחַק־ל֑וֹ 13a The Lord laughs at him,
כִּֽי־רָ֝אָ֗ה כִּֽי־יָבֹ֥א יוֹמֽוֹ׃ 13b because he sees that his time will come.
חֶ֤רֶב ׀ פָּֽתְח֣וּ רְשָׁעִים֮ 14a The wicked have drawn swords
וְדָרְכ֪וּ קַ֫שְׁתָּ֥ם 14b and strung their bows
לְ֭הַפִּיל עָנִ֣י וְאֶבְי֑וֹן 14c in order to bring down the one who is afflicted and poor,
לִ֝טְב֗וֹחַ יִשְׁרֵי־דָֽרֶךְ׃ 14d in order to slaughter those whose conduct is upright.
חַ֭רְבָּם תָּב֣וֹא בְלִבָּ֑ם 15a Their swords will go into their own hearts
וְ֝קַשְׁתּוֹתָ֗ם תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ 15b and their bows will be broken.
טוֹב־מְ֭עַט לַצַּדִּ֑יק 16a A little belonging to the righteous person is better
מֵ֝הֲמ֗וֹן רְשָׁעִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ 16b than the abundance of many wicked people.
כִּ֤י זְרוֹע֣וֹת רְ֭שָׁעִים תִּשָּׁבַ֑רְנָה 17a For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
וְסוֹמֵ֖ךְ צַדִּיקִ֣ים יְהוָֽה׃ 17b but YHWH is upholding the righteous.
יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה יְמֵ֣י תְמִימִ֑ם 18a YHWH knows the days of the blameless,
וְ֝נַחֲלָתָ֗ם לְעוֹלָ֥ם תִּהְיֶֽה׃ 18b and their inheritance will be forever.
לֹֽא־יֵ֭בֹשׁוּ בְּעֵ֣ת רָעָ֑ה 19a They will not come to shame during hard times,
וּבִימֵ֖י רְעָב֣וֹן יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃ 19b and they will eat their fill during times of famine.
כִּ֤י רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ יֹאבֵ֗דוּ 20a For the wicked will perish,
וְאֹיְבֵ֣י יְ֭הוָה כִּיקַ֣ר כָּרִ֑ים 20b and YHWH’s enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture.
כָּל֖וּ *כֶעָשָׁ֣ן* כָּֽלוּ׃ 20c They are finished like smoke! They are finished!
לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם 21a The wicked person is borrowing and will not repay,
וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃ 21b but the righteous person is giving generously.
כִּ֣י מְ֭בֹרָכָיו יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ 22a For those blessed by him will possess the land,
וּ֝מְקֻלָּלָ֗יו יִכָּרֵֽתוּ׃ 22b and those cursed by him will be destroyed.
מֵ֭יְהוָה מִֽצְעֲדֵי־גֶ֥בֶר כּוֹנָ֗נוּ 23a When a person’s steps are made steadfast by YHWH,
וְדַרְכּ֥וֹ יֶחְפָּֽץ׃ 23b then he will be pleased with his way.
כִּֽי־יִפֹּ֥ל לֹֽא־יוּטָ֑ל 24a When he falls, he will not fall flat,
כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה סוֹמֵ֥ךְ יָדֽוֹ׃ 24b because YHWH is supporting his hand.
נַ֤עַר ׀ הָיִ֗יתִי גַּם־זָ֫קַ֥נְתִּי 25a I was once a young man, and now I am old,
וְֽלֹא־רָ֭אִיתִי צַדִּ֣יק נֶעֱזָ֑ב 25b and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned
וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם׃ 25c or his children looking for food.
כָּל־הַ֭יּוֹם חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה 26a He is always lending generously,
וְ֝זַרְע֗וֹ לִבְרָכָֽה׃ 26b and his children will become a blessing.
ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֗וֹב 27a Turn away from evil and do good,
וּשְׁכֹ֥ן לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 27b and you will reside forever!
כִּ֤י יְהוָ֨ה ׀ אֹ֘הֵ֤ב מִשְׁפָּ֗ט 28a For YHWH loves justice,
וְלֹא־יַעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־חֲ֭סִידָיו 28b and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him.
פִּֽי־צַ֭דִּיק יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חָכְמָ֑ה 30a A righteous person’s mouth utters what is wise,
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ תְּדַבֵּ֥ר מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ 30b and his tongue speaks what is just.
תּוֹרַ֣ת אֱלֹהָ֣יו בְּלִבּ֑וֹ 31a The instruction of his God is in his heart.
לֹ֖א תִמְעַ֣ד אֲשֻׁרָיו׃ 31b His steps will not slip.
*עַוָּלִים נִשְׁמָדוּ* 28c Wrong-doers are exterminated,
וְזֶ֖רַע רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽת׃ 28d and the children of the wicked are destroyed!
צַדִּיקִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ 29a The righteous will possess the land
וְיִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ לָעַ֣ד עָלֶֽיהָ׃ 29b and reside on it forever.
צוֹפֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע לַצַּדִּ֑יק 32a The wicked person is watching for the righteous person
וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃ 32b and trying to kill him.
יְ֭הוָה לֹא־יַעַזְבֶ֣נּוּ בְיָד֑וֹ 33a YHWH will not abandon him into his hand,
וְלֹ֥א יַ֝רְשִׁיעֶ֗נּוּ בְּהִשָּׁפְטֽוֹ׃ 33b and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into judgment.
קַוֵּ֤ה אֶל־יְהוָ֨ה ׀ וּשְׁמֹ֬ר דַּרְכּ֗וֹ 34a Hope in YHWH and keep his way,
וִֽ֭ירוֹמִמְךָ לָרֶ֣שֶׁת אָ֑רֶץ 34b and he will exalt you to possess the land.
בְּהִכָּרֵ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃ 34c You will see when the wicked are destroyed.
רָ֭אִיתִי רָשָׁ֣ע עָרִ֑יץ 35a I once saw a ruthless wicked person,
וּ֝מִתְעָרֶ֗ה כְּאֶזְרָ֥ח רַעֲנָֽן׃ 35b and he was ascending like a native tree.
וָאֶעֲבֹר* וְהִנֵּ֣ה אֵינֶ֑נּוּ* 36a Then I passed by, and—get this!—he was gone;
וָֽ֝אֲבַקְשֵׁ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א נִמְצָֽא׃ 36b then I looked for him, and he was not found.
שְׁמָר־תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר 37a Pay attention to the blameless one, and look at the upright one,
כִּֽי־אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ 37b because the future of a [blameless] person is peace.
וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו 38a But those who rebel are completely exterminated!
אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה׃ 38b The future of the wicked is destroyed!
וּתְשׁוּעַ֣ת צַ֭דִּיקִים מֵיְהוָ֑ה 39a But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH,
מָֽ֝עוּזָּ֗ם בְּעֵ֣ת צָרָֽה׃ 39b their fortress during times of trouble,
וַֽיַּעְזְרֵ֥ם יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיְפַ֫לְּטֵ֥ם 40a and YHWH helps them and rescues them.
יְפַלְּטֵ֣ם מֵ֭רְשָׁעִים וְיוֹשִׁיעֵ֑ם 40b He will rescue them from the wicked and save them,
כִּי־חָ֥סוּ בֽוֹ׃ 40c because they have sought refuge in him.

Expanded paraphrase The expanded paraphrase seeks to capture the implicit information within the text and make it explicit for readers today. It is based on the CBC translation and uses italic text to provide the most salient background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences.

This resource is forthcoming.

Participant Tracking Text Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? Our full analysis can be found in the Participant Analysis layer.

  Participant Color-Coding

Psalm 037 - Participant Sets List jpg.jpg

Psalm 037 - PA Table .jpg