Psalms 37 Commentary

George Leo Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary (21 verse expositions)

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Psalms 37:1Lemma: “For a remembrance”

“A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.”

For a remembrance, viz., of our miseries and sins; and to be sung on the sabbath-day. (Challoner) — This sabbath might also allude to the indolent rest which occasioned the fall of David, 2 Kings xi. 1. (Haydock) — Hebrew mentions not the sabbath; and it is not known (Calmet) why the Septuagint made this addition. The prophet may have Christ suffering for our sins in view, (Berthier) though he probably composed this psalm, when he was afflicted with an illness after this fall. (Rab. Muis, &c.) (Calmet) — It contains an excellent model for penitents, (Calmet) to enable them to regain peace of conscience, (St. Gregory) and paradise, from which they are banished by sin. (St. Augustine) — This remembrance (Worthington) is most essential. (Haydock)

Psalms 37:2Lemma: “Wrath”

“For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”

Wrath. God is incapable of passion: but man deserves to be treated with the utmost rigour; and this David deprecates, begging that God would act rather like a physician in his regard. (Theodoret) (Calmet) — The same petition occurs in psalm vi.; and this ought to caution people not to make imprecations, since God’s judgments are so terrible. (Berthier) — St. Augustine and St. Gregory explain this text of the fire of hell, and of purgatory, 1 Corinthians iii. 15. (Haydock) — Though some be saved by the latter, “yet is that fire more grievous than whatever man can suffer in this life.” (St. Augustine) — “I esteem that transitory fire more intolerable than all present tribulation.” (St. Gregory) (Worthington) — We may therefore pray, “Here burn,” &c., with the same St. Augustine who assures us, (Gen. con. Man. ii. 20.) that “he who cultivates not the field of his soul, will, after this life, experience either the fire of purgatory or eternal punishment.” (Haydock)

Psalms 37:5Lemma: “Me”

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Commit: Heb. Roll thy way upon”

Me. They press upon me like a deluge or huge weight. (Calmet) — The sin of David had many aggravations. (Berthier) — His punishment was also great. (Calmet) — His spirit was almost overwhelmed, as the sins which are not bewailed, bring on other transgressions. (Worthington) — It is not so much sin as the neglect of penance, which destroys men. (Berthier) — This folly is here acknowledged by David. (Haydock)

Psalms 37:6Lemma: “Foolishness”

“And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”

Foolishness, or sin. Shame has made me conceal the state of my soul; and hence evil has increased. (St. Jerome, &c.) (Calmet) — The poisoned wound has infected other parts which were sound: (Worthington) chaburoth denotes sores, or “wounds still fresh or mortifying,” (Haydock) rather than scars. (Menochius) — All sin is properly styled foolishness, as no prudent man should commit any. (Origen)

Psalms 37:7Lemma: “End”

“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: Heb. Be silent to”

End. Hebrew, “exceedingly,” while a person feels his state is not desperate. (Berthier) — Sorrowful. Hebrew, “in black,” which may refer either to the mourning attire, (Calmet) or to the “countenance.” (Symmachus) — Grief will allow me to take no rest. (Origen) — I dare not look up to heaven, (Calmet) nor can I walk straight, to perform any good work (Worthington) of myself. (Haydock)

Psalms 37:8Lemma: “Loins”

“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”

Loins. Psoai, as the Alexandrian and Complutensian Septuagint read, though the Vatican has psuche, soul, (Haydock) with the Arabic, &c. — Illusions. Hebrew nikle, “burning.” (Pagnin) “shameful ulcer.” (Houbigant) “Ignominy.” (St. Jerome) (Haydock) — David acknowledges that the irregular motions of concupiscence were an effect of his transgression. The Jews and Greeks place these sensations in the loins, 3 Kings viii. 10. Plato triplicem finxit animam, cujus principatum in capite, iram in pectore, cupiditatem subter pręcordia locavit. (Cicero, Tusc. 1.) (Calmet) — Flesh. Concupiscence striving in me.

Psalms 37:11Lemma: “Troubled”

“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

Troubled. Hebrew, “beats,” palpitat. (Houbigant) — Itself. Hebrew, “even they are,” &c. (Haydock) — I was no longer endued with the spirit of prophecy, (St. Basil) till my conversion, (St. Augustine) nor an object of favour. (Haydock) — I was abandoned to myself, (Calmet) quitting thy light. (St. Ambrose) — My eyes have been hurt by weeping (Haydock) and maladies, (Calmet) while my heart is become so corrupt, that I do not relish or discern spiritual things. (Haydock) — The beauty of virtue, and the enormity of vice, do not strike me. (Menochius)

Psalms 37:12Lemma: “Have”

“The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. plotteth: or, practiseth”

Have. Hebrew, “over-against my wound (Haydock) or leprosy.” (Calmet) Protestants, “stand aloof from my sore.” (Haydock) — But the original means rather “near to.” Septuagint may have read u for i, in nighi. (Berthier) — But Symmachus and St. Jerome translate, “stood against my leprosy, (Haydock) and my neighbour stood at a distance;” as if they had been afraid of the contagion. Job (xix. 13, 19.) makes the same complaints. (Calmet) — These manners of worldlings may be seen in every age, and ought not to fill us with surprise. (Berthier) (John xv. 18.) — David was abandoned by Achitophel, and by most of the tribe of Juda, (Theodoret) as our Saviour was by his disciples. (St. Augustine)

Psalms 37:13Lemma: “Violence”

“The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.”

Violence. Hebrew, “laid snares.” This treatment might be expected from enemies, since friends proved so treacherous. (Haydock) — They would willingly have slain David. The will is often put for the deed. (Calmet) — Things. Endeavouring to engage me again in sin, being displeased because I have quitted their evil company; (Worthington) or they raise their fortune, by causing dissensions in the state. This might be well applied to the Pharisees, who persecuted Christ.

Psalms 37:14Lemma: “Mouth”

“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. such: Heb. the upright of way”

Mouth. I utterly renounce all sin. (Worthington) — David would make no reply to Semei, (Theodoret) nor our Saviour to Pilate. (Calmet) — Silence is often the best defence. (Haydock) — Eagerness to justify one’s self, causes trouble and disedification. (Berthier) — The prophet joins the deaf and dumb; as those who have naturally the former defect, are also affected with the latter. (Pliny, [Natural History?] x. 69.) (Haydock)

Psalms 37:16Lemma: “Hoped”

“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.”

Hoped. This was the reason of his silence. (Berthier) — He knew that God was in a manner engaged to defend those (Calmet) who rely (Worthington) wholly on Him; and he declared such to be his disposition. (Haydock) — Hear me. The same term thahane means, “wilt answer” (Mont.) as a judge and advocate. (Haydock) — God will one day manifest the justice of his elect. (Berthier)

Psalms 37:18Lemma: “Scourges”

“The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.”

Scourges. Protestants, to “halt,” letselah. (Haydock) — St. Jerome ad plagas. Chaldean, “for calamity.” (Berthier) See Psalm xxxiv. 15. I speak not through impatience, as I know that my sins deserve still more. (Calmet) — I resign myself to thee. (Worthington) — This was admirably verified in Jesus Christ, the victim for our sins. (Calmet) — Before me. I cannot forget my transgression. (Haydock)

Psalms 37:19Lemma: “Sin”

“They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.”

Sin. Though Thou knowest all things, I will confess that I may be saved; and will meditate on what I have deserved. (Worthington) — He goes to the source of his malady. (Calmet) — “Be not secure after confession of thy sin, as being always ready to confess and to offend. Declare thy iniquities in such a manner as to take care on account of thy sin.” (St. Augustine) — Confession without repentance is only a mockery. (Haydock)

Psalms 37:21Lemma: “Detracted me”

“The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.”

Detracted me, by insinuating that my repentance is hypocrisy. Another mode of detracting is by making known secret faults, (Worthington) as calumny imputes false ones. (Haydock) — Goodness. Septuagint, “justice.” Many Greek and Latin copies add: “They have rejected me, the beloved, (Theodoret; Arabic) as one dead, as an abomination.” — Forsake, ver. 22. (St. Ambrose) (Calmet)