Geneva Study Bible <<A Psalm of David.>> Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. <<A Psalm of David.>> Fret not {a} thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
(a) He admonishes us neither to vex ourselves for the prosperous estate of the wicked, or to desire to be like them to make our estate better. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. For they shall soon be {b} cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
(b) For God's judgment cuts down their state in a moment. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. {c} Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
(c) To trust in God and do according to his will are sure signs that his providence will never fail us. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. {d} Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
(d) Do not be led by your own wisdom, but obey God and he will finish his work in you. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy {e} judgment as the noonday.
(e) As the hope of daylight causes us not to be offended with the darkness of the night so ought we patiently to trust that God will clear our cause and restore us to our right. 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. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him {f} who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
(f) When God allows the wicked to prosper, it seems to the flesh that he favours their doings, Job 21:7. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: {g} fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
(g) Meaning, unless he moderates his affection, he will be led to do as they do. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. {h} For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
(y) He corrects the impatience of our nature, which cannot abide till the fulness of God's time is come. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. {i} The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
(i) The godly are assured that the power and craft of the wicked will not prevail against them, but fall on their own necks and therefore should patiently abide God's time, and in the meanwhile bewail their sins, and offer up their tears as a sacrifice of their obedience. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. {k} A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
(k) For they are daily fed as with manna from heaven and have sufficient, while the wicked never have enough, but always hunger. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. The LORD {l} knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
(l) God knows what dangers hang over his, and by what means to deliver them. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall {m} be satisfied.
(m) For God will give them contented minds, and that which will be necessary. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the {n} fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
(n) They will vanish away suddenly for they are fed for the day of slaughter. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and {o} giveth.
(o) God so furnishes him with high blessings, that he is able to help others. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. {p} The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
(p) God prospers the faithful because they walk in his ways with an upright conscience. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Though he {q} fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
(q) When God exercises his faith with various temptations. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his {r} seed begging bread.
(r) Though the just man die, yet God's blessings are extended to his posterity and though God suffer some just man to lack temporal benefits, yet he recompenses him with spiritual treasures. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein {s} for ever.
(s) They will continually be preserved under God's wings, and have at least inward rest. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The {t} mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
(t) These three points are required from the faithful, that their talk is godly, that God's law is in their heart, and that their life is upright. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is {u} judged.
(u) For though it is sometimes so expedient both for God's glory and their salvation, yet he will approve their cause and avenge their wrong. Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Yet he {x} passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
(x) So that the prosperity of the wicked is but as a cloud, which vanishes away in a moment. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. {y} Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
(y) He exhorts the faithful to mark diligently the examples both of God's mercies, and also of his judgments. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. But the {z} salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
(z) He shows that the patient hope of the godly is never in vain, but in the end has good success, though for a time God proves them by various temptations. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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