Psalm 37:4 kjv
Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4 nkjv
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 niv
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 esv
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 nlt
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desires.
Psalm 37 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 1:2 | but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. | Delight found in God's instruction and ways. |
| Job 22:26 | then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. | Finding profound joy in the presence of God Himself. |
| Isa 58:13-14 | If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the Holy Day of the Lord honorable... then you will take delight in the Lord... | Obedience to God's commands leads to delight in Him. |
| Rom 7:22 | For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; | The Spirit-led renewed mind finds pleasure in God's will. |
| Matt 6:33 | But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. | Prioritizing God's kingdom aligns earthly provisions. |
| John 15:7 | If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. | Abiding in Christ refines and empowers desires for prayer. |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us... | Prayer is effective when aligned with God's revealed will. |
| Phil 2:13 | for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. | God actively shapes the will and desires of believers. |
| Ps 20:4 | May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! | A general blessing for aspirations consistent with God. |
| Ps 145:19 | He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. | God's faithfulness to those who reverence Him. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. | Trust and surrender enable God to direct one's path. |
| Ps 37:3 | Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. | Immediate context emphasizing trust and righteous action. |
| Ps 37:5 | Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. | Committing one's entire life to God for His working. |
| Ps 37:7 | Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. | Waiting on God's timing and justice. |
| Ps 37:11 | But the meek will inherit the earth, and enjoy peace and prosperity. | Ultimate vindication and blessing for the humble. |
| Jer 29:11 | For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. | God's benevolent and purposeful plans for His people. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. | Faith is indispensable for divine approval and reward. |
| Rom 12:2 | Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. | Mental transformation leads to discerning and adopting God's will. |
| 2 Cor 12:7-10 | ...but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me... For when I am weak, then I am strong. | God's power manifest through dependence, even when comfort isn't granted. |
| Ps 73:25 | Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. | God Himself is the supreme and ultimate desire. |
| Luke 11:9-10 | So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. | Encouragement for persistent and sincere prayer. |
| Jn 14:13 | And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. | Requests made by Christ's authority, for God's glory. |
| 1 Tim 6:6-8 | But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. | Emphasizes contentment alongside spiritual pursuit. |
Psalm 37 verses
Psalm 37 4 Meaning
Psalm 37:4 exhorts believers to cultivate profound joy, satisfaction, and supreme pleasure in God Himself, distinct from any fleeting circumstances or material possessions. When a heart authentically finds its deepest gratification in the Lord, aligning its affections and aspirations with His character and will, God faithfully promises to bestow those righteous longings that spring forth from this transformed heart. It is a profound assurance that transcends the granting of mere selfish whims, signifying that as one delights in God, their desires are sanctified and thus coincide with His divine intentions for them.
Psalm 37 4 Context
Psalm 37, composed by David, is a wisdom psalm presenting a comprehensive guide for the righteous on how to navigate life when the wicked appear to flourish and injustice prevails. Its core message, running throughout its quasi-acrostic structure, is an imperative to trust in the Lord and patiently await His divine timing and justice, rather than succumbing to anxiety, envy, or anger over temporary disparities. Verse 4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart," serves as a cornerstone of this teaching, contrasting the ephemeral success of the ungodly with the enduring blessings derived from a deeply rooted, God-centered existence. This instruction would have resonated with an ancient audience grappling with the moral problem of evil and prosperity, redirecting their focus from external appearances to the internal spiritual condition and the certainty of God’s ultimate vindication.
Psalm 37 4 Word analysis
- Delight yourself: From the Hebrew verb
anag(עָנַג), implying an active, personal enjoyment and taking exquisite pleasure. It denotes a deep, intimate satisfaction and joy that one finds exclusively in the Lord, going beyond a passive experience to a cultivated posture of heartfelt adoration and inner contentment with God. - in the Lord: Refers to
Yahweh(יְהוָה), God's covenant name. This emphasizes that the object of delight is the personal, faithful, and self-existent God who reveals Himself and enters into relationship. It means finding supreme contentment not in what God provides, but in His very person, character, and relationship. - and he will give you: Signifies a divine promise and active response from God. It highlights God as the gracious giver, confirming His intentional involvement in fulfilling the longings of those who delight in Him.
- the desires: From the Hebrew noun
mish'alot(מִשְׁאֲלוֹת), meaning requests, petitions, or deep longings. This term refers to the genuine aspirations and inner longings of the heart, not just superficial or fleeting wants. - of your heart: From the Hebrew noun
lev(לֵב), representing the totality of the inner person—intellect, will, emotions, and conscience. Therefore, "desires of your heart" means those profound and sincere longings that emanate from the innermost being, specifically when that being is transformed and shaped by its delight in God.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Delight yourself in the Lord": This is an imperative calling for an intentional and wholehearted orientation of one's deepest affections and joy toward God Himself. It denotes finding one's primary and ultimate source of gratification, comfort, and satisfaction in God's person, character, and will, rather than in external circumstances or worldly achievements. This posture signifies a relationship of intimate pleasure and unwavering trust.
- "and he will give you the desires of your heart": This powerful promise articulates the divine consequence of true delight in God. When the heart's supreme satisfaction is found in God, its desires are intrinsically purified, sanctified, and progressively conformed to God's own will and purposes. Thus, what a person genuinely desires aligns with what God Himself delights to provide or accomplish. This is not a carte blanche for any self-serving desire but a spiritual principle where divine purpose and transformed human aspiration converge, leading to God-ordained fulfillment.
Psalm 37 4 Bonus section
The imperative "Delight yourself" uses a form of the Hebrew verb anag that can suggest making oneself pliable or delicate through pampering. This implies a nurturing, tender relationship with God where He cherishes and generously provides for those who cherish Him. This verse counters a common human inclination to fret over unrighteous prosperity, instead guiding the believer towards a posture of internal rest and contentment in God. It posits that true contentment and fulfillment are derived not from external acquisitions but from the internal condition of one's heart relative to God. The fulfillment of desires often involves God re-shaping those desires over time to align with His kingdom agenda, underscoring His sovereignty in both shaping our will and granting our petitions. This passage is fundamentally about priorities: placing God first ensures that what we truly desire is precisely what He intends to provide.
Psalm 37 4 Commentary
Psalm 37:4 articulates a foundational spiritual principle: genuine satisfaction and true life fulfillment emerge not from the relentless pursuit of self-focused ambitions or material wealth, but from a profound and active devotion to God. To "delight yourself in the Lord" means making God your ultimate source of joy, pleasure, and contentment. It’s an active choice to cherish and adore His character, His faithfulness, and His sovereign will above all else. This profound shift in affections transforms the very core of one's desires. When God becomes the preeminent delight, He subtly reorients and purifies the heart's longings. The subsequent promise, "he will give you the desires of your heart," therefore, is not a license for unrestrained wishing. Instead, it signifies that as our heart becomes increasingly attuned to God, His desires become our desires. What we genuinely seek will align with His perfect will, and it is these God-given desires that He pledges to fulfill, demonstrating His covenant faithfulness and enabling us to participate in His divine purposes.
Examples:
- A believer's passionate desire to share the gospel with others, rooted in their delight in Christ, often finds God supernaturally opening doors and providing words for such encounters.
- When a person’s delight is truly in God's righteousness, they may develop a deep desire for justice and mercy in their community, and God often empowers them to become instruments of change in that very area.
- One who delights in God's wisdom may find a hunger for spiritual understanding and, through study and prayer, is granted profound insights into divine truth.