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Psalm 37:1

By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

1By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
3Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
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Psalm 37:2 →
Notice

Fretting over evildoers and envying them appear in the same sentence, naming how wrongdoing can trouble you even while its rewards begin to look attractive.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

Where, if anywhere, do you find yourself both resenting wrongdoing and wanting what it seems to gain?

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What difference does the comparison with withering grass make to how you read David’s warning?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 37:7Rest in the LORD, 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.Both warn against fretting over evildoers; verse 7 names their prosperity and successful plots while directing the reader to wait for the LORD.
Proverbs 23:17Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.Both forbid envy of those who sin; Proverbs directs the heart toward fearing the LORD throughout the day.
Proverbs 24:19Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;Both pair the same two warnings: do not fret because of evildoers, and do not envy the wicked.
Proverbs 3:31Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.Both forbid envying someone who does wrong; Proverbs names violence and warns against choosing that person’s ways.
Proverbs 24:1Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;Both warn against envying evil people; Proverbs adds a warning against wanting their company.
Psalm 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.Psalm 73 confesses envy at the prosperity of the wicked, the response David warns against in Psalm 37.
Galatians 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 …Both treat envy as something to reject; Galatians includes it among practices incompatible with inheriting God’s Kingdom.
James 4:5–6Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?James’s language of jealous yearning has a disputed sense; its link with David’s warning against envy is limited.
1 Samuel 1:6–8Her rival provoked her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had shut up her womb.The shared thread is distress caused by another person’s wrongdoing: David warns against fretting, while Samuel describes a rival’s cruel provocation.
Jeremiah 12:1You are righteous, LORD, when I contend with you; yet I would like to plead a case with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease …Jeremiah questions why the wicked prosper, voicing the concern behind David’s warning against fretting over and envying evildoers.
1 Peter 2:1Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,Both reject envy; Peter includes it among the evils his readers are to put away.
Psalm 49:16Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;Both caution against being unsettled by other people’s circumstances, though Psalm 49’s line names growing wealth rather than wrongdoing.
Where this verse fits

Envy and comparison. injustice and anger.

What the Bible says about anger →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 37:1–3 and underline both warnings

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Encouragement

David names wrongdoing without treating it as worth copying. The next lines compare evildoers to withering grass: their apparent advantage will pass, and YHWH remains worthy of trust.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 37:1. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 37 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).