John Calvin Commentary Psalms 37:1

"Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness." — Psalms 37:1 (ASV)

Fret not thyself because of the wicked. David lays down this as a general principle: that the prosperity of the wicked, in which they greatly rejoice, should on no account vex or disquiet the children of God, because it will soon fade away. On the other hand, although the people of God are afflicted for a time, the outcome of their afflictions will be such that they have every reason to be contented with their lot.

Now all this depends upon the providence of God; for unless we are persuaded that the world is governed by Him in righteousness and truth, our minds will soon stagger, and eventually entirely fail us. David then condemns two sinful emotions of the mind, which are indeed closely allied, and one of which is generated by the other.

He first enjoins the faithful not to fret on account of the wicked, and secondly, not to indulge an envious spirit towards them. For, in the first place, when they see the wicked enjoying prosperity, from which it might naturally be supposed that God does not regard the affairs of men, there is a danger lest they shake off the fear of God and apostatize from the faith.

Then another temptation follows: namely, that the influence of the example of the wicked excites in them a desire to involve themselves in the same wickedness with them. This is the natural sense. The Hebrew words, אל-תתחר, al-tithechar, which we have translated Fret not thyself, are by some translated Do not mingle thyself with. But this interpretation is too forced and may be disproved by the context. For in the eighth verse (Psalms 37:8), where mention is expressly made of wrath and anger, it would surely be absurd to interpret in another sense the same verb which immediately follows these two words and which is used there in the same sense and for the same purpose as in this first verse.

In the second place, the order which David observes is very natural. When the prosperity of the wicked has irritated our minds, we very soon begin to envy them their happiness and ease. First, then, he exhorts us to be on our guard, lest a happiness that is only transitory, or rather imaginary, should vex or disquiet us; and secondly, lest envy should lead us to commit sin.

The reason by which he enforces this exhortation is added in the following verse (Psalms 37:2): for if the wicked flourish today like the grass of the field, tomorrow they will be cut down and wither. We need not wonder that this comparison is often found in the sacred writings, since it is so very appropriate. We see how soon the strength of the grass decays; when blown down by a blast of wind, or parched with the heat of the sun, even without being cut by human hands, it withers away. In like manner, David tells us that the judgment of God, like a scythe in human hands, will cut down the wicked, so that they will suddenly perish.