Psalm 37:1
37:1 [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.

Psalm 37:2
37:2 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.

Psalm 37:3
37:3 {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.

Psalm 37:5
37:5 {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.

Psalm 37:6
37:6 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.

Psalm 37:7
37:7 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.

Psalm 37:8
37:8 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.

Psalm 37:10
37:10 {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.

Psalm 37:12
37:12 {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.

Psalm 37:16
37:16 {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.

Psalm 37:18
37:18 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.

Psalm 37:19
37:19 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.

Psalm 37:20
37:20 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.

Psalm 37:21
37:21 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.

Psalm 37:23
37:23 {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.

Psalm 37:24
37:24 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.

Psalm 37:25
37:25 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.

Psalm 37:29
37:29 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.

Psalm 37:30
37:30 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.

Psalm 37:33
37:33 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.

Psalm 37:36
37:36 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.

Psalm 37:37
37:37 {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.

Psalm 37:39
37:39 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.