Psalm 37 7

Psalm 37:7 kjv

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Psalm 37:7 nkjv

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Psalm 37:7 niv

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.

Psalm 37:7 esv

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Psalm 37:7 nlt

Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37 verses

Psalm 37 7 Meaning

Psalm 37:7 calls the righteous to cultivate a quiet, confident trust in the Eternal God, relinquishing all anxious worry or envious agitation concerning the transient prosperity of the wicked. It emphasizes active surrender to the Creator's sovereignty and patiently awaiting His divine timing and righteous judgment, rather than succumbing to fear or resentment when observing the apparent success of those who live by ungodly methods and deceptive schemes.

Psalm 37 7 Context

Psalm 37 is a wisdom Psalm, distinctively organized as an acrostic (though imperfectly in the English). Its core purpose is to provide spiritual counsel to the righteous in times of apparent injustice, specifically when the wicked seem to prosper and gain influence while the upright suffer or struggle. The psalm reassures the faithful that God is sovereign, sees all, and will ultimately bring about justice, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked. Verse 7 specifically serves as a command to respond with quiet trust and patient expectation to this visible disparity, preventing anxiety and envy from taking root and leading to sinful responses, which the earlier and later verses warn against. The overall message contrasts the temporary, fleeting success of the ungodly with the enduring blessedness and inheritance of those who fully commit their way to the Creator.

Psalm 37 7 Word analysis

• Rest: Hebrew: דּוּמִי (dumi), from the root דָּמַם (damam). It signifies quietness, silence, being still, or waiting. This "rest" is not passive idleness, but an active, quiet trust, ceasing from one's own efforts, anxieties, and fretting. It's about bringing the inner person to a place of stillness before God.
• in the LORD: Designates the object of one's rest and trust. The emphasis is on placing absolute dependence upon the sovereign Eternal God alone, not on human schemes or efforts, or external circumstances.
• and wait patiently: Hebrew: וְהוֹחֵל (vehohel), from the root יָחַל (yachal). This means to hope, to be patient, to expect, or to wait with endurance and hope. It conveys a confident, expectant attitude, a firm assurance in God's eventual intervention and fulfillment of His promises, even when His timing is delayed. It is not resignation but active dependence.
• for Him: Reaffirms that the expectation and patience are specifically directed toward the Lord, reinforcing His role as the only true source of justice and intervention.
• Do not fret: Hebrew: אַל-תִּתְחַר (al-titḥar), from the root חָרָה (ḥarah), meaning to burn, to be angry, inflamed, or hot with resentment or envy. It directly cautions against agitated worrying, emotional turmoil, or simmering indignation caused by the perception of unrighteous success. Such fretting leads to destructive actions and thoughts.
• because of him who prospers in his way: This refers to the apparent worldly success and unhindered progress of the wicked. Their "way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) signifies their life path, their actions, and their chosen course of living, which, though contrary to God's will, seems to yield favorable results in the immediate term.
• Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass: Amplifies the nature of the "prosperity." This isn't just accidental success, but the fulfillment of intentional, malicious plots and deceitful plans (מְזִמּוֹת, m'zimōt). The verse addresses the natural human reaction of being troubled when injustice appears to triumph through evil means.

Psalm 37 7 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "rest in the LORD" and "wait patiently for Him" reveals that true patience is rooted in profound trust and quiet surrender. It's not passive inactivity, but an active internal disposition of hopeful expectation that allows God to work. The "prosperity" of the wicked is consistently portrayed in the Psalms as superficial and short-lived, akin to grass that quickly withers (Ps 37:2). Therefore, the call not to fret is based on an eternal perspective, reminding believers that the ultimate outcome, determined by the Divine, far outweighs any temporal success of human wickedness. This verse reminds the righteous that their peace and spiritual stability are more valuable than reacting to the world's perceived inequalities.

Psalm 37 7 Commentary

Psalm 37:7 is a profound call to quiet, trusting surrender in the face of apparent injustice. It provides a divine counter-narrative to the common human experience of being troubled by the flourishing of the wicked. The instruction to "rest in the LORD" is a directive to cease striving, internal worrying, and personal efforts to rectify perceived wrongs. It demands a spiritual stillness, a peaceful submission to the Almighty's control over all circumstances. This inner "rest" is then paired with "wait patiently for Him," an active and hopeful expectation that God, in His perfect timing, will indeed bring about His righteous judgment and promises. It counters the impulse to act impulsively or resentfully.

The stern command "Do not fret" underscores the destructive nature of anxiety, envy, or anger when observing the wicked's seemingly effortless "prosperity" and successful "wicked schemes." Such emotional turmoil can lead to sinful reactions, mirroring the very behaviors one despises in the wicked. The Creator's wisdom advises against allowing external circumstances, especially the temporary triumph of evil, to disturb one's inner peace and trust in His divine order. The emphasis is on faith in God's unseen, but ultimate, justice and the transient nature of the wicked's success versus the eternal reward for the righteous.