I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
Parallel translations
- WEB I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
- KJV I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
- NKJV I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
- NASB ¶I have seen a wicked, violent person Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.
- NLT I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
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 recalls seeing a wicked man in great power, flourishing like a luxuriant tree. The ungodly can appear strong and well-rooted.
Overview
David testifies to having observed the wicked at the height of apparent prosperity, spreading like a vigorous native tree. This honest observation acknowledges that evil sometimes looks impressively successful. Yet, as the next verse shows, such flourishing is fleeting, reinforcing the psalm's plea not to envy but to trust the God who outlasts all human glory.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Job 5:3I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
- Job 21:7–17Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
- Ps 73:3–11For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Esth 5:11Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
- Job 8:13–19Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
- Isa 14:14–19I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
- Ezek 31:6–10All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.
- Ezek 31:18Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’”
- Dan 4:20–33The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
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 37:35 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.