Psalm 37:8 kjv
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Psalm 37:8 nkjv
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret?it only causes harm.
Psalm 37:8 niv
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret?it leads only to evil.
Psalm 37:8 esv
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Psalm 37:8 nlt
Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper ?
it only leads to harm.
Psalm 37 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Controlling Anger | ||
| Prov 14:17 | A quick-tempered man acts foolishly... | Folly of uncontrolled temper. |
| Prov 14:29 | Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. | Wisdom in patience over quick temper. |
| Prov 15:18 | A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict, but the one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel. | Peacemaking vs. stirring conflict. |
| Prov 16:32 | Better a patient man than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. | Self-control superior to brute strength. |
| Prov 19:11 | Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. | Wisdom in restraint and forgiveness. |
| Prov 29:22 | An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man commits many transgressions. | Direct link between anger and sin. |
| Eccl 7:9 | Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. | Folly of swift anger. |
| Jas 1:19-20 | ...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | Anger hinders God's righteousness. |
| Eph 4:26 | Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger... | Command to manage anger without sinning. |
| Col 3:8 | But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk from your mouth. | Call to shed destructive emotions. |
| Consequences of Uncontrolled Anger Leading to Evil | ||
| Matt 5:21-22 | ...everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment... | Jesus extends the sin to inner anger. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | ...acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality... idolatry... wrath, dissension, divisions... | Wrath as a work of the flesh leading to disinheritance. |
| Rom 1:29-31 | ...filled with all manner of unrighteousness... envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice... arrogant... disobedient to parents... | Manifestations of an ungodly heart. |
| Titus 3:2 | To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy toward all people. | Gentleness contrasts with anger. |
| Trust in God and Patient Endurance | ||
| Ps 37:1 | Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers... | Immediate context: foundational instruction to Ps 37:8. |
| Ps 37:7 | Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself... | Preceding verse, advocating patience. |
| Prov 24:19-20 | Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked... | Similar exhortation against fretting. |
| Rom 12:17-19 | Repay no one evil for evil... never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God... | God is the rightful avenger; don't retaliate. |
| 1 Pet 3:9 | Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling... instead, bless... | Call to bless despite mistreatment. |
| Avoiding Evil / Righteous Living | ||
| Ps 34:14 | Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. | Universal call to reject evil and do good. |
| Rom 12:21 | Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. | Counteracting evil with righteous actions. |
| 1 Pet 4:3 | For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality... hatred, envy... | Life of believer transformed from past evils. |
Psalm 37 verses
Psalm 37 8 Meaning
Psalm 37:8 commands the believer to abstain from destructive emotions like anger and wrath, recognizing that such intense emotional turmoil invariably leads to the perpetration of evil deeds. It serves as a stern warning against yielding to vexation over the prosperity of the wicked, instead advocating for a steadfast heart rooted in God's righteousness.
Psalm 37 8 Context
Psalm 37 is an instructional wisdom psalm, possibly an acrostic (though incomplete in some lines), attributed to David. It addresses the perplexing issue of the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering or struggle of the righteous. Rather than giving in to envy, frustration, or anger at apparent injustice, the psalm repeatedly exhorts believers to trust in the Lord, commit their way to Him, dwell in the land, and wait patiently. The core message is that divine justice will ultimately prevail, the wicked will fade, and the righteous will inherit the land and be established. Verse 8 is a direct command within this larger instruction, preventing an internal emotional state (anger/wrath/fretting) from leading to ungodly external actions, which would compromise one's own righteousness and ability to walk in trust.
Psalm 37 8 Word analysis
- Cease (הֶרֶף, hereph): Hiphil imperative of the root רָפָה (raphah). Meaning "to relax, let go, cease, desist." It conveys an immediate, authoritative command to stop the action of holding onto anger. The nuance implies letting go of a grasp or control that anger might exert.
- from anger (מֵאַף, mē'aph): Mē- is the preposition "from," and 'aph (אַף) literally means "nose" or "nostril," and by extension, "anger," especially a quick, intense, snorting-like anger or wrath that is a sudden outburst. It refers to a heated, explosive passion.
- and forsake (וַעֲזֹב, va'azov): Infinitive construct of the root עָזַב (azav), meaning "to abandon, leave, let go of, relinquish." Coupled with the preceding "cease," this strengthens the imperative, suggesting a more permanent and decisive renunciation of the emotion, rather than a temporary pause.
- wrath (חֵמָה, ḥēmah): A noun meaning "heat, burning, hot displeasure, rage, fury." It typically refers to a more intense, sustained, and potentially vengeful or destructive form of anger than 'aph. It can consume an individual.
- fret not yourself (אַל־תִּתְחָר, 'al-tithḥār): 'Al (אַל) is the negative particle "do not." Tithḥār is the Hithpael imperfect form of חָרָה (ḥārah), meaning "to burn, be hot, be angry, be vexed, contend." The Hithpael stem often denotes a reflexive or intensive action, meaning "do not show yourself vexed," "do not continually burn with indignation." This mirrors the repeated command from Psalm 37:1, forming an inclusio for the psalm's central admonition.
- in any wise to do evil (אַךְ־לְהָרֵעַ, 'akh-l'hārēaʿ): 'Akh (אַךְ) is an emphatic particle, "surely, indeed, only." L'hārēaʿ (לְהָרֵעַ) is the infinitive construct of רָעַע (rāʿaʿ), meaning "to do harm, to be evil, to do evil." The phrase emphatically warns that succumbing to anger and wrath will only result in actions that are wicked or cause harm. The sequence implies an inevitable trajectory from destructive emotion to sinful deed.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Cease from anger and forsake wrath: This pairing highlights two aspects of negative emotional engagement. "Cease from anger" addresses the immediate, impulsive outburst, while "forsake wrath" deals with the more profound, persistent, and potentially malicious form of fury. Together, they demand a complete severance from these destructive emotions. It's an internal discipline commanded externally.
- fret not yourself in any wise to do evil: This links the internal struggle with the external manifestation. "Fret not yourself" reinforces the main theme of the psalm, combating internal vexation (often fueled by seeing the wicked prosper). The addition "in any wise to do evil" presents the direct consequence or ultimate outcome: such fretting and emotional agitation inevitably push one towards performing wicked acts, effectively undermining one's own righteousness and adherence to God's ways.
Psalm 37 8 Bonus section
The progression implied in this verse is significant: inner vexation leads to anger, which escalates into wrath, and culminates in actual evil deeds. This is a common biblical theme demonstrating the source of sin often lies in the heart and uncontrolled emotions. Furthermore, this instruction prevents the righteous from stooping to the level of the wicked; if they react to injustice with their own forms of "evil," they lose their distinctive witness and undermine their trust in God's ultimate justice. It also hints at the self-destructive nature of holding onto such emotions, as they ultimately consume the individual and lead them away from God's path.
Psalm 37 8 Commentary
Psalm 37:8 offers a profound ethical imperative for the righteous, instructing them to dismantle anger and wrath at their root, before they germinate into sinful actions. The psalm is a manual for the soul in a world of seeming injustice, challenging the natural human tendency to react with frustration and envy when the ungodly appear to prosper. This verse specifically targets the destructive pathway from unmanaged internal emotion to external sin. "Cease from anger" addresses the initial fiery passion, while "forsake wrath" speaks to a deeper, more consuming rage. The recurring admonition "fret not yourself" (seen also in vv. 1, 7) underscores that dwelling on the prosperity of the wicked ignites a destructive internal fire. This internal combustion "in any wise to do evil," signifying that such emotional states do not lead to constructive action, but rather exclusively to harmful, unrighteous deeds. It's a call to spiritual discipline, trusting God's timing and justice rather than letting personal indignation provoke one into sin, thereby aligning oneself with the very evildoers one disdains.For example, a believer observing injustice in society might feel indignant (rightly so). However, Psalm 37:8 warns against letting that indignation fester into a sinful anger or a vengeful wrath that pushes them to unlawful retaliation or malice. Instead, they are called to trust God's sovereignty and act righteously.