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Psalm 37:35–37

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37:35I have seen ruthless evil men66

growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.67

37:36But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared!68

I looked for them, but they could not be found.

37:37Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly!69

For the one who promotes peace has a future.70

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Footnotes

  1. 66 The Hebrew uses the representative singular again here.
  2. 67 Heb “being exposed [?] like a native, luxuriant.” The Hebrew form מִתְעָרֶה (mit’areh) appears to be a Hitpael participle from עָרָה (’arah, “be exposed”), but this makes no sense in this context. Perhaps the form is a dialectal variant of מִתְעָלָה (“giving oneself an air of importance”; see Jer 51:3), from עָלָה (’alah, “go up”; see P. C. Craigie, Psalms 1–50 [], ). The noun אֶזְרָח (’ezrakh, “native, full citizen”) refers elsewhere to people, but here, where it is collocated with “luxuriant, green,” it probably refers to a tree growing in native soil.
  3. 68 Heb “and he passes by and, look, he is not [there].” The subject of the verb “passes by” is probably indefinite, referring to any passerby. Some prefer to change the form to first person, “and I passed by” (cf. ; note the first person verbal forms in preceding verse and in the following line).
  4. 69 Or “upright.”
  5. 70 Heb “for [there is] an end for a man of peace.” Some interpret אַחֲרִית (’akharit, “end”) as referring to offspring (see the next verse and Ps 109:13; cf. , ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,

spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;

though I sought him, he could not be found.

Mark the blameless and behold the upright,

for there is a future for the man of peace.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

a future awaits those who seek peace.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I have seen a wicked, violent person

well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.

Then I passed by and noticed he was gone;

I searched for him, but he could not be found.

Watch the blameless and observe the upright,

for the person of peace will have a future.

NLTNew Living Translation

I have seen wicked and ruthless people

flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

But when I looked again, they were gone!

Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

Look at those who are honest and good,

for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I have seen the wicked acting violently

and spreading himself out

like a luxuriant native tree.

Then he passed on and behold, he was not.

And I sought him, but he could not be found.

Observe the blameless and look at the upright,

for there is a future for a man of peace.

KJV 1900King James Version

I have seen the wicked in great power,

And spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:

Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright:

For the end of that man is peace.