Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
Parallel translations
- WEB By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
- KJV Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
- NKJV Donot fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
- NASB Do not get upset because of evildoers, Do not be envious of wrongdoers.
- NLT Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David urges believers not to fret or envy evildoers who seem to prosper. Their success is temporary and not worth our anxiety.
Overview
This wisdom psalm opens by addressing a common temptation: agitation and envy when the wicked thrive. David counsels calm trust rather than corrosive resentment. The instruction not to fret runs through the psalm and is echoed by Jesus' call not to be anxious but to seek first God's kingdom (Matthew 6:33), resting in the Father's care.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ps 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
- Prov 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Prov 24:19Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
- Prov 3:31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
- Prov 24:1Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
- Ps 73:3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Gal 5:21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Jas 4:5–6Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
- 1 Sam 1:6–8Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously.
- Prov 19:3A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 37:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.