Read
Psalm 37:12
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
10For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
11But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.
14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.
Notice
Gnashing teeth make the hostility visible: the wicked plan harm against the just, confronting the hope that doing right will keep a person safe.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What expectations about being treated fairly does the phrase “plots against the just” challenge for you?
Write on thisHow does the Lord’s response in the next verse affect your reading of those gnashing teeth?
Write on thisConnect
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
Matthew 5:10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.Both passages describe righteous people facing hostility; Matthew adds Jesus’ blessing upon those persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Psalm 35:16Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.Gnashing teeth express hostility in both psalms, with Psalm 35 describing mockers directing that gesture at the speaker.
Micah 2:1Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.Both passages describe planned wrongdoing, and Micah traces the movement from devising evil in bed to carrying it out.
Genesis 37:18They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.Both texts describe plotting against another person; Genesis makes the conspirators’ intent to kill explicit.
Nehemiah 6:2Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come! Let’s meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to harm me.The wicked plot harm in the psalm, while Sanballat and Geshem conceal harmful intent beneath a proposed meeting.
Psalm 31:13For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.Both psalms describe hostile plots, with Psalm 31 naming slander and a conspiracy to take the speaker’s life.
Matthew 26:16From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.Both texts show harm being prepared in advance, through plotting in the psalm and seeking an opportunity for betrayal in Matthew.
Daniel 8:12The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience. It cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and …Both portray evil at work, though Daniel describes truth cast down rather than a plot against a just person.
Psalm 112:10The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.Both psalms portray the wicked gnashing their teeth; Psalm 112 also states that their desire will perish.
Lamentations 2:16All your enemies have opened their mouth wide against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth. They say, “We have swallowed her up. Certainly this is the day that …Gnashing teeth mark hostility in both passages, while Lamentations also records enemies boasting that their desired day has arrived.
1 John 3:12unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.Both passages depict evil directed against the righteous; John names Cain’s murder of his brother as such an act.
1 Samuel 18:21Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a …Saul’s plan to make marriage a snare for David gives a specific instance of plotting harm against another person.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. fear for the future. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Being treated with hostility does not prove that you have done wrong. This psalm names hatred against the just, and the next verse makes clear that the Lord sees its end.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 37:12. 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).