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Psalm 37:9
For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
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.
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
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.
Notice
The words “cut off” give this promise a severe edge: the apparent success of evildoers will end, while those waiting for YHWH receive the land.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
Where does someone else's success at doing wrong make waiting for YHWH hard?
Write on thisHow does the promise of inheriting the land challenge what you think wrongdoing can secure?
Write on thisWhat remains unresolved for you when you read that evildoers will be cut off?
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 5:5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.Both promise an inheritance: the psalm names those who wait for the LORD, and Matthew names the gentle.
Isaiah 60:21Then your people will all be righteous. They will inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.Both promise that the land will be inherited, with Isaiah describing the people as righteous and their inheritance as lasting forever.
Psalm 25:13His soul will dwell at ease. His offspring will inherit the land.Both speak of inheriting the land, though Psalm 25 places that promise with the offspring of the person described.
Psalm 37:34Wait for the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.Both join waiting for the LORD with inheriting the land and declare that the wicked will be cut off.
Proverbs 2:21For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.Both connect a secure place in the land with those who wait for the LORD or live upright lives.
Psalm 37:29The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.Both promise inheritance of the land, with verse 29 naming the righteous and adding that they will live there forever.
Isaiah 57:13When you cry, let those whom you have gathered deliver you, but the wind will take them. A breath will carry them all away, but he who takes refuge in me will …Both contrast loss with possession of the land, linking that possession to waiting for the LORD or taking refuge in him.
Psalm 55:23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.Both place trust in God against the destruction awaiting those who do evil.
Isaiah 58:14then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you to ride on the high places of the earth, and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your …Both speak of the LORD providing an inheritance, with Isaiah naming it as the heritage of Jacob.
Revelation 5:10and made us kings and priests to our God; and we will reign on the earth.”Both describe a future place for God's people on the earth, though the psalm speaks of inheritance and Revelation of reigning.
Hebrews 11:16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for …Both describe a promised place for God's people; Hebrews speaks of a heavenly country and a city prepared by God.
Job 20:23–29When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.Both contain warnings of judgment; the psalm speaks of evildoers being cut off, while the speech in Job depicts God's fierce wrath.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. waiting. envy and comparison.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The fate of evildoers belongs to God's judgment. Waiting can be hard when wrong succeeds; YHWH promises an inheritance to those who wait for him.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 37:9. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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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).