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The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/37.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/37.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/37.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD <i>shall be</i> as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/37.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/37.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked will perish; And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures, They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/37.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />But the wicked will perish; And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures, They vanish— like smoke they vanish away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/37.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />But the wicked will perish; And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures, They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/37.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />But the wicked will perish; And the enemies of Yahweh will be like the glory of the pastures, They vanish—in smoke they vanish away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/37.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked (ungodly) will perish, And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures <i>and</i> like the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke], They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/37.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked will perish; the LORD’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away — they will fade away like smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/37.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked will perish; the LORD&#8217s enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away— they will fade away like smoke. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/37.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; in smoke shall they consume away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/37.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Wicked people are enemies of the LORD and will vanish like smoke from a field on fire. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/37.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the excellency of the pastures: they shall consume; in smoke shall they consume away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/37.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But wicked people will disappear. The LORD's enemies will vanish like the best part of a meadow. They will vanish like smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/37.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But the wicked will die; the enemies of the LORD will vanish like wild flowers; they will disappear like smoke. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/37.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Indeed, the wicked will perish. The LORD's enemies will be consumed like flowers in the fields. They will vanish like smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/37.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/37.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But evil men will die; the LORD's enemies will be incinerated--they will go up in smoke. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/37.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the LORD shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish--vanish like smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/37.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/37.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/37.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />But the wicked perish, and the enemies of YHWH, "" Have been consumed as the preciousness of lambs, "" They have been consumed in smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/37.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> But the wicked perish, and the enemies of Jehovah, As the preciousness of lambs, Have been consumed, In smoke they have been consumed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/37.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For the unjust shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah as the preciousness of lambs: they ended in smoke; they ended.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/37.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />because the wicked shall perish. And the enemies of the Lord, presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to nothing and vanish like smoke. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/37.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 36:20>for sinners will perish. Truly, the adversaries of the Lord, soon after they have been honored and exalted, will fade away, in the same way that smoke fades away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/37.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The wicked perish, enemies of the LORD; They shall be consumed like fattened lambs; like smoke they disappear. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/37.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But the wicked perish, and the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/37.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For the wicked shall perish, and the rich who are enemies of the LORD shall be consumed; they shall vanish like smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/37.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because the wicked perish and the fattened enemies of LORD JEHOVAH are finished and like smoke they disappear.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/37.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs-- They shall pass away in smoke, they shall pass away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/37.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For the sinners shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord at the moment of their being honoured and exalted have utterly vanished like smoke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/37-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=4237" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/37.htm">Do Not Envy Those who Do Wrong</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">But</a> <a href="/hebrew/7563.htm" title="7563: rə·šā·‘îm (Adj-mp) -- Wicked, criminal. From rasha'; morally wrong; concretely, an bad person.">the wicked</a> <a href="/hebrew/341.htm" title="341: wə·’ō·yə·ḇê (Conj-w:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- Hating, an adversary. Or owyeb; active participle of 'ayab; hating; an adversary.">and enemies</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/6.htm" title="6: yō·ḇê·ḏū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To perish. A primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. Lose oneself; by implication to perish.">will perish</a> <a href="/hebrew/3368.htm" title="3368: kî·qar (Prep-k:: Adj-msc) -- Precious, rare, splendid, weighty. From yaqar; valuable.">like the glory</a> <a href="/hebrew/3733.htm" title="3733: kā·rîm (N-mp) -- From karar in the sense of plumpness; a ram, including a battering-ram; hence, a meadow; also a pad or camel's saddle.">of the fields.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3615.htm" title="3615: kā·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent. A primitive root; to end, whether intransitive or transitived.">They will vanish;</a> <a href="/hebrew/6227.htm" title="6227: ḇe·‘ā·šān (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Smoke. From ashan; smoke, literally or figuratively.">like smoke</a> <a href="/hebrew/3615.htm" title="3615: kā·lū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent. A primitive root; to end, whether intransitive or transitived.">they will fade away.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/10-28.htm">Proverbs 10:28</a></span><br />The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/20-5.htm">Job 20:5</a></span><br />the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/4-1.htm">Malachi 4:1</a></span><br />“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-28.htm">Isaiah 1:28</a></span><br />But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/66-24.htm">Isaiah 66:24</a></span><br />“As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/73-18.htm">Psalm 73:18-19</a></span><br />Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. / How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/24-20.htm">Proverbs 24:20</a></span><br />For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/33-14.htm">Isaiah 33:14</a></span><br />The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-40.htm">Matthew 13:40-42</a></span><br />As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. / The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. / And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/1-9.htm">2 Thessalonians 1:9</a></span><br />They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-8.htm">Revelation 21:8</a></span><br />But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-13.htm">Matthew 7:13</a></span><br />Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/13-3.htm">Luke 13:3</a></span><br />No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/15-6.htm">John 15:6</a></span><br />If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/3-7.htm">2 Peter 3:7</a></span><br />And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="hdg">But the</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2</a></b></br> As smoke is driven away, <i>so</i> drive <i>them</i> away: as wax melteth before the fire, <i>so</i> let the wicked perish at the presence of God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/92-9.htm">Psalm 92:9</a></b></br> For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/5-31.htm">Judges 5:31</a></b></br> So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but <i>let</i> them that love him <i>be</i> as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.</p><p class="hdg">as the fat of lambs [heb.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/33-14.htm">Deuteronomy 33:14-16</a></b></br> And for the precious fruits <i>brought forth</i> by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, … </p><p class="hdg">smoke</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/102-3.htm">Psalm 102:3</a></b></br> For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/19-28.htm">Genesis 19:28</a></b></br> And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/3-3.htm">Leviticus 3:3-11,16</a></b></br> And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that <i>is</i> upon the inwards, … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/29-2.htm">Beauty</a> <a href="/psalms/21-9.htm">Burned</a> <a href="/psalms/21-9.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/psalms/31-10.htm">Consumed</a> <a href="/psalms/35-17.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/psalms/35-19.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/psalms/22-29.htm">Fat</a> <a href="/psalms/23-2.htm">Fields</a> <a href="/psalms/34-2.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/psalms/35-19.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/ezra/8-35.htm">Lambs</a> <a href="/psalms/23-2.htm">Pastures</a> <a href="/psalms/10-16.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-7.htm">Preciousness</a> <a href="/psalms/18-8.htm">Smoke</a> <a href="/job/36-20.htm">Vanish</a> <a href="/psalms/37-17.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/psalms/37-1.htm">Wrongdoers</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/39-11.htm">Beauty</a> <a href="/psalms/39-3.htm">Burned</a> <a href="/psalms/39-11.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/psalms/39-10.htm">Consumed</a> <a href="/psalms/37-34.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/psalms/38-19.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/psalms/63-5.htm">Fat</a> <a href="/psalms/78-12.htm">Fields</a> <a href="/psalms/39-11.htm">Glory</a> <a href="/psalms/38-20.htm">Haters</a> <a href="/psalms/65-13.htm">Lambs</a> <a href="/psalms/65-12.htm">Pastures</a> <a href="/psalms/41-5.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-7.htm">Preciousness</a> <a href="/psalms/66-15.htm">Smoke</a> <a href="/psalms/58-7.htm">Vanish</a> <a href="/psalms/37-21.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/psalms/37-38.htm">Wrongdoers</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 37</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/37-1.htm">David persuades to patience and confidence in God, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/37-12.htm">by the different estate of the godly and the wicked</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/37.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/psalms/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/psalms/37.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the ultimate fate of those who oppose God. Throughout the Bible, the wicked are often contrasted with the righteous, highlighting the moral and spiritual divide between those who follow God's ways and those who do not. The concept of perishing is not just physical death but also spiritual separation from God. This echoes themes found in <a href="/psalms/1-6.htm">Psalm 1:6</a>, where the way of the wicked leads to destruction. The idea of perishing is also seen in the New Testament, such as in <a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a>, where eternal life is contrasted with perishing.<p><b>like the glory of the fields</b><br>The imagery of the "glory of the fields" suggests something that is beautiful but temporary. In the ancient Near East, fields would bloom with flowers and crops, displaying a brief period of splendor before withering away. This metaphor is used to illustrate the fleeting nature of human achievements and earthly glory. <a href="/isaiah/40-6.htm">Isaiah 40:6-8</a> similarly uses the imagery of grass and flowers to convey the transience of human life compared to the enduring word of God.<p><b>They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away</b><br>The comparison to smoke underscores the idea of impermanence and insubstantiality. Smoke rises and dissipates quickly, leaving no trace behind. This serves as a powerful image of the ultimate futility of wickedness and rebellion against God. The vanishing of the wicked is a theme that resonates with other scriptures, such as <a href="/james/4-14.htm">James 4:14</a>, which describes life as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. This imagery reinforces the biblical teaching that only what is rooted in God will endure.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wicked.htm">The Wicked</a></b><br>Refers to those who live in opposition to God's laws and righteousness. In the context of <a href="/bsb/psalms/37.htm">Psalm 37</a>, they are contrasted with the righteous who trust in the Lord.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/enemies_of_the_lord.htm">Enemies of the LORD</a></b><br>These are individuals or groups who actively oppose God's will and His people. They are often seen as those who reject God's authority and commandments.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is the central figure in the Psalms, representing divine justice, righteousness, and faithfulness.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_glory_of_the_fields.htm">The Glory of the Fields</a></b><br>A metaphor for the temporary and fleeting nature of earthly wealth and beauty, which is used to illustrate the ultimate fate of the wicked.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/smoke.htm">Smoke</a></b><br>Symbolizes transience and impermanence, emphasizing how the wicked will ultimately disappear without a trace.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_temporary_nature_of_wickedness.htm">The Temporary Nature of Wickedness</a></b><br>The wicked may seem prosperous and powerful, but their success is fleeting. Like smoke, they will vanish, reminding us not to envy their temporary gains.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_divine_justice.htm">Trust in Divine Justice</a></b><br>God's justice is sure and certain. We can trust that He will deal with the wicked in His time, and we should focus on living righteously.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_righteous_living.htm">The Importance of Righteous Living</a></b><br>Unlike the wicked, the righteous have an eternal inheritance. Our focus should be on cultivating a life that honors God and reflects His values.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_opposing_god.htm">The Futility of Opposing God</a></b><br>Those who set themselves against God will ultimately fail. It is wise to align ourselves with God's purposes and seek His will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/eternal_perspective.htm">Eternal Perspective</a></b><br>This verse encourages us to maintain an eternal perspective, understanding that earthly troubles and the apparent success of the wicked are temporary.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_37.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 37</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_zophar_with_psalm_73.htm">How do we reconcile Zophar's rigid cause-and-effect theology in Job 20 with other biblical passages (like Psalm 73) that acknowledge the prosperity of the wicked without immediate judgment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_psalm_92_9_conflict_with_grace.htm">Psalm 92:9 declares all God's enemies shall perish--does this conflict with other passages that suggest the wicked may receive grace or forgiveness?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_wicked_people_prosper_despite_psalm_37_9.htm">How can Psalm 37:9 ('evildoers shall be cut off') be taken seriously when many wicked individuals throughout history have lived long and prosperous lives?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_psalm_139_19-22_and_love_align.htm">Psalm 139:19-22: How do these verses endorsing hatred for the wicked align with other passages in the Bible that command love for one's enemies?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/37.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">As the fat of lambs.</span>--It is now generally allowed that this should be rendered <span class= "ital">as the glory of the meadows, </span>recurring to the image of <a href="/psalms/37-2.htm" title="For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.">Psalm 37:2</a>. The next clause may then be either, <span class= "ital">they are consumed, with smoke they are consumed; </span>or, <span class= "ital">they pass away, like smoke they pass away.</span><p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/37.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">But the wicked shall perish</span> (comp. vers. 2, 9, 10, 15, 36); literally, <span class="accented">for</span> <span class="accented">the wicked shall perish.</span> The happiness of the righteous cannot be complete until the wicked are removed out of their way; since, so long as they continue in the world, they will be ever vexing the righteous and troubling them (<a href="/psalms/56-1.htm">Psalm 56:1</a>). <span class="cmt_word">And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs</span>. So, many of the old commentators, as Aquila, Kimchi, and others; and among moderns, Rosenmuller, and Professor Alexander. But the bulk of recent critics translate, <span class="accented">as the excellency of the pastures</span> (Hupfeld, Kay, Hengstenberg, Canon Cook, Cheyne, Revised Version); <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the rich herbage which is burnt up by the heat of summer (comp. ver. 2). Both translations seem to be tenable; but the latter is perhaps preferable, since the consumption of the fat of lambs upon the altar is connected with the idea, not of rejection, but of acceptance. <span class="cmt_word">Into smoke shall they consume away</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/102-3.htm">Psalm 102:3</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/37-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the wicked</span><br /><span class="heb">רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀</span> <span class="translit">(rə·šā·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7563.htm">Strong's 7563: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wrong, an, bad person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and enemies</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֹיְבֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ō·yə·ḇê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_341.htm">Strong's 341: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hating, an adversary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְ֭הוָה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will perish</span><br /><span class="heb">יֹאבֵ֗דוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yō·ḇê·ḏū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6.htm">Strong's 6: </a> </span><span class="str2">To wander away, lose oneself, to perish</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like the glory</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּיקַ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(kî·qar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3368.htm">Strong's 3368: </a> </span><span class="str2">Precious, rare, splendid, weighty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the fields.</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּרִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(kā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3733.htm">Strong's 3733: </a> </span><span class="str2">A ram, a, battering-ram, a meadow, a pad, camel's saddle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">They will vanish;</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(kā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3615.htm">Strong's 3615: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">like smoke</span><br /><span class="heb">בֶעָשָׁ֣ן</span> <span class="translit">(ḇe·‘ā·šān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6227.htm">Strong's 6227: </a> </span><span class="str2">Smoke</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they will fade away.</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּֽלוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(kā·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3615.htm">Strong's 3615: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/37-20.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 37:20 But the wicked shall perish (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/37-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 37:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 37:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/37-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 37:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 37:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>