Psalms 37:34

Old Testament Poetry/Hymns ASV (1901)

What does Psalms 37:34 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psalms 37:34 — American Standard Version

Context — Psalms 37

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
34Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law, etc.] A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance of the law, as in his hands; which understanding must be given, and is a gift of pure, free, rich grace, to such who have it; though they cannot keep the law perfectly, as no mere man can, yet will keep it spiritually, from a principle of love and gratitude, and with a view to the glory of God and Christ, (<620520>1 John 5:20); yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole heart; not only…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“On the contrary, the good are not only blessed, but made to see the ruin of their foes.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Wait on the Lord - See the notes at Psalms 37:9. Let your hope be from the Lord; depend wholly upon Him; have such confidence in Him as to expect His gracious interposition in your behalf. And keep his way - Or, walk in the path which He commands. Do not turn from that at any thee. Do not allow any temptation, or any opposition, to cause you to swerve from that path. And he shall exalt thee to inherit the land - See Psalms 37:3, Psalms 37:9,Psalms 37:18. When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it - This implies that they would certainly be cut off, and that the righteous would be permitted to see the result of a course of righteousness and one of wickedness. It is not necessarily implied…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Wait: Kawah, to wait, implies the extension of a right line from one point to another. The first point is the human heart; the line is its intense desire; and the last point is God, to whom the heart extends this straight line of earnest desire. He who, while he waits on God, keeps his way, is sure to have the further blessings of which he is in pursuit. Psa 37:3, Psa 37:7, Psa 37:9, Psa 27:14; Pro 20:22 keep: Job 17:9, Job 23:10-12; Pro 4:25-27, Pro 16:17; Mat 24:13 exalt: Psa 92:10, Psa 112:9; Luk 14:11; Pe1 1:7, Pe1 5:6 when: Psa 52:5, Psa 52:6, Psa 91:8, Psa 92:11 Psalms 37:35”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Let the eye of faith directed hopefully to Jahve go on its way, without suffering thyself to be turned aside by the persecution and condemnation of the world, then He will at length raise thee out of all trouble, and cause thee to possess (לרשׁת, ut possidas et possideas) the land, as the sole lords of which the evil-doers, now cut off, conducted themselves. Psalms 37:35”
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Sources and verification