Why Do the Wicked Prosper? The Timeless Wisdom of Psalm 37

Psalm 37 opens with King David encouraging us not to become discouraged by the apparent success of the wicked:

"Do not fret because of evildoers; do not be jealous of those who do wrong."

Their prosperity is only temporary:

"For they will quickly wither like grass, and fade like green vegetation."

Instead of focusing on others, David urges us to place our trust in Hashem:

"Trust in Hashem and do good; dwell in the land and be nourished by faithfulness."

He promises that those who delight in Hashem will be blessed:

"Delight in Hashem, and He will grant you the desires of your heart."

David continues by encouraging patience and prayer. Even when the wicked seem to prosper, justice will ultimately prevail:

"A little longer, and the wicked will be no more; you will look at his place, and he will not be there. But the humble will inherit the land and delight in abundant peace."

The Righteous Will Be Saved

The central section of the psalm contrasts the fate of the righteous with that of the wicked.

Although the wicked plot against innocent people,

"The wicked draw the sword and bend their bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slaughter those who are upright in their way,"

their plans ultimately turn against them:

"Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken."

The righteous, however, are never forgotten by Hashem:

"Hashem knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever. They will not be ashamed in a time of evil, and in days of famine they will be satisfied."

In contrast:

"For the wicked will perish, and the enemies of Hashem will vanish like the glory of the meadows; they will disappear in smoke."

Throughout this section, David also describes the character of the righteous:

"Turn away from evil and do good."

"The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The Torah of his God is in his heart; his steps will not falter."

A Call to Keep the Mitzvot

The psalm concludes with one final appeal:

"Hope to Hashem and keep His way."

Those who remain faithful to Hashem will ultimately witness His justice:

"He will raise you up to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it."

David ends the psalm on a note of hope and confidence:

"Hashem helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him."

The Full Chapter

(1) Of David. Do not fret because of evildoers; do not be jealous of those who do wrong.

(2) For they will quickly wither like grass, and fade like green vegetation.

(3) Trust in Hashem and do good; dwell in the land and be nourished by faithfulness.

(4) Delight in Hashem, and He will grant you the desires of your heart.

(5) Commit your way to Hashem; trust in Him, and He will act.

(6) He will bring forth your righteousness like the light, and your justice like the noonday sun.

(7) Be still before Hashem and wait patiently for Him; do not fret over one who prospers in his way, over a man who carries out schemes.

(8) Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret, it only leads to harm.

(9) For evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in Hashem, they will inherit the land.

(10) A little longer, and the wicked will be no more; you will look at his place, and he will not be there.

(11) But the humble will inherit the land and delight in abundant peace.

(12) The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.

(13) Hashem laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.

(14) The wicked draw the sword and bend their bow, to bring down the poor and needy, to slaughter those who are upright in their way.

(15) Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.

(16) Better the little that belongs to the righteous than the abundance of many wicked people.

(17) For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but Hashem supports the righteous.

(18) Hashem knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.

(19) They will not be ashamed in a time of evil, and in days of famine they will be satisfied.

(20) For the wicked will perish, and the enemies of Hashem will vanish like the glory of the meadows; they will disappear in smoke.

(21) The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous is gracious and gives.

(22) For those blessed by Him will inherit the land, and those cursed by Him will be cut off.

(23) A man's steps are established by Hashem, and He delights in his way.

(24) Though he falls, he will not be hurled down, for Hashem supports his hand.

(25) I was young, and now I have grown old, yet I have never seen a righteous person abandoned, or his children begging for bread.

(26) All day long he is gracious and lends, and his children are a blessing.

(27) Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell forever.

(28) For Hashem loves justice and does not forsake His devoted ones; they are protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

(29) The righteous will inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

(30) The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice.

(31) The Torah of his God is in his heart; his steps will not falter.

(32) The wicked watches the righteous and seeks to put him to death.

(33) Hashem will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

(34) Hope to Hashem and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

(35) I saw a ruthless wicked man spreading himself like a flourishing native tree.

(36) Then he passed away, and behold, he was gone; I looked for him, but he could not be found.

(37) Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

(38) But transgressors will all be destroyed together; the future of the wicked is cut off.

(39) The salvation of the righteous is from Hashem; He is their stronghold in a time of trouble.

(40) Hashem helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.

5 Fascinating Things You May Not Have Known About Psalm 37

1. A Well Known Verse Is Recited After Birkat Hamazon

Verse 25,

"I was young, and now I have grown old, yet I have never seen a righteous person abandoned, or his children begging for bread,"

and, in the Sephardic tradition, the verse that follows it,

"All day long he is gracious and lends, and his children are a blessing,"

are recited after Birkat Hamazon together with other verses expressing gratitude for Hashem's provision.

2. One Verse Inspired a Morning Blessing

The words,

"A man's steps are established by Hashem,"

in verse 23 serve as the basis for the morning blessing thanking Hashem for guiding a person's steps and giving the ability to walk.

3. The Psalm Is Recited Before the Evening Prayer

The final two verses of Psalm 37,

"The salvation of the righteous is from Hashem; He is their stronghold in a time of trouble,"

and

"Hashem helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him,"

are recited in many communities before the evening prayer together with other verses asking Hashem for protection throughout the night.

4. The Psalm Teaches the Importance of Repaying Debts

Verse 21 states:

"The wicked borrows and does not repay."

Chazal cite this verse in the laws governing lenders and borrowers, teaching that repaying one's debts is a moral obligation.

5. Why Shouldn't We Be Troubled by the Success of the Wicked?

Midrash Shocher Tov offers a beautiful explanation of the verse:

"Trust in Hashem and do good."

The Midrash teaches that Hashem tells David not to become disturbed when he sees the wicked prospering. Instead, he should continue doing good, trusting that Hashem's justice is perfect.

The Midrash explains that if Hashem bestows goodness even upon those who rebel against Him, then how much greater will be the reward prepared for those who trust Him, study Torah, and live righteously.

It illustrates this with a parable about a laborer who faithfully served a king for many years but had not yet received his wages. One day he watched another laborer who had worked for only a single day receive generous payment. Rather than becoming discouraged, he realized that if someone who worked one day was rewarded so generously, then surely his own reward would be even greater.

Likewise, David found comfort when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. If Hashem grants them blessings in this world, how much greater must be the reward waiting for the righteous.

The Midrash concludes with the verse:

"How abundant is Your goodness that You have hidden away for those who fear You."

Conclusion

Psalm 37 reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. While the wicked may seem to prosper for a time, true security and lasting blessing belong to those who trust in Hashem. Through its timeless message of patience, faith, and righteous living, this psalm encourages us to focus not on temporary success, but on the eternal rewards Hashem has prepared for those who follow His ways.