Psalm 37

Psalm 37 is a response to the problem of evil, which the Old Testament often expresses as a question: why do the wicked prosper and the good suffer? In the New American Bible, Revised Edition, published by the Catholic Church in the USA, the psalm answers that this situation is only temporary: God will reverse things, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked here on earth. Charles Spurgeon calls it "the great riddle of the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous". The theme of inheriting the land reoccurs five times in this Psalm (in verses 9, 11, 22, 29 and 34). Prior to this in Psalm 25:13 the rich as also said to inherit the land as well. Albert Barnes also compares the wicked being cut off in psalm 37:2 and 10 with the wicked being cut off in Psalm 73:27. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain commentary on the psalm, seeing prophecy of contemporary events to the community in Qumran during the late Second Temple period within it, including references to the Teacher of Righteousness. ==Uses==

New Testament The Beatitudes in the New Testament are influenced by this psalm. Verse 11 was cited by Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:5. The original reads, : But the meek shall inherit the earth; :: and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Judaism • Verse 21 is found in Pirkei Avot Chapter 2, no. 14. • Verse 25 is part of the final paragraph of Birkat Hamazon. Book of Common Prayer In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the seventh day of the month. Islam "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever" is referenced in the Qur'an: == Musical settings ==

Heinrich Schütz wrote a setting of a paraphrase of Psalm 37 in German, "Erzürn dich nicht so sehre", SWV 134, for the Becker Psalter, published first in 1628. Verses 30–31 in Latin were set by Anton Bruckner as "Os Justi" in 1879. British composer Clara Ross (1858-1954) used Psalm 37 as the text for her song “Fret Not Thyself.” == Illuminated manuscripts ==

File:Harley ms 603 f021r.jpg|Psalm 37 in the Harley Psalter. File:Psalter of Eleanor of Aquitaine (ca. 1185) - KB 76 F 13, folium 059r.jpg|The beginning of Psalm 37, in the Psalter of Eleanor of Aquitaine. ==Text==

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 36. == See also ==