Don’t worry about the wicked or 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.
- BSB Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
- 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.
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 37:7Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
- Prov 23:17Don’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
- Prov 24:19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
- Prov 3:31Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
- Prov 24:1Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
- Ps 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Gal 5:21envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom.
- Jas 4:5–6Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
- 1 Sam 1:6–8Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
- Prov 19:3The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.
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.