Psalm 37:15 - Do Not Envy Those who Do Wrong

Audio Bible

Context

Do Not Envy Those who Do Wrong
…14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. 15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.…

Cross References

Proverbs 26:27
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.Proverbs 1:18-19
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives. / Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.Esther 7:10
So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.Psalm 7:15-16
He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. / His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.Psalm 9:15-16
The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. / The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion SelahPsalm 57:6
They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! SelahPsalm 141:10
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.Ecclesiastes 10:8
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.Matthew 26:52
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.Revelation 13:10
“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.Obadiah 1:15
For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your recompense will return upon your own head.Proverbs 11:5-6
The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness. / The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the faithless are trapped by their own desires.Proverbs 28:10
He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.Job 5:12-13
He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success. / He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.

Psalm 7:14,15
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood…

Psalm 35:8
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

1 Samuel 31:4
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

bows

Psalm 46:9
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Psalm 76:3-6
There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah…

Hosea 1:5
And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

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Psalm 37

But their swords will pierce their own hearts
This phrase reflects the principle of divine justice, where the wicked's own schemes lead to their downfall. The imagery of a sword piercing one's own heart suggests self-destruction, a common theme in biblical literature. In the historical context, swords were primary weapons of war, symbolizing power and aggression. The Bible often uses the sword metaphorically to represent the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12), but here it signifies the destructive plans of the wicked. This concept is echoed in Proverbs 26:27, which states that those who dig a pit will fall into it. Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ's victory over evil, where the plans of the wicked ultimately lead to their own ruin, much like how the crucifixion, intended to destroy Jesus, resulted in the salvation of mankind.

and their bows will be broken
Bows, like swords, were essential tools of warfare in ancient times, representing strength and the ability to attack from a distance. The breaking of bows signifies the nullification of the wicked's power and intentions. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages, such as Psalm 46:9, where God is described as breaking the bow and shattering the spear, symbolizing the end of conflict and the establishment of peace. The breaking of bows can also be seen as a prophetic assurance of God's ultimate justice and the futility of opposing His will. In a broader theological sense, this reflects the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom, where all opposition is rendered powerless, aligning with the eschatological vision in Revelation where Christ reigns supreme.

Persons / Places / Events

1. David
The author of Psalm 37, King David, is addressing the righteous and the wicked, providing wisdom on how to live a life pleasing to God.

2. The Wicked
Those who plot against the righteous, using metaphorical swords and bows to symbolize their harmful intentions.

3. The Righteous
The people who trust in the Lord and follow His ways, contrasted with the wicked throughout the psalm.

4. Israel
The nation to whom David originally wrote, providing guidance and encouragement in the face of adversity.

5. God's Justice
The overarching theme of divine justice, where God ultimately protects the righteous and brings the wicked to ruin.

Teaching Points

The Self-Destructive Nature of Wickedness
Wicked actions often lead to self-inflicted harm. Just as the wicked's swords pierce their own hearts, sin ultimately leads to one's downfall.

Trust in Divine Justice
Believers are encouraged to trust in God's justice rather than seeking revenge. God will ensure that the wicked face the consequences of their actions.

The Futility of Opposing God
The breaking of the bows symbolizes the futility of opposing God's will. No weapon formed against God's people will ultimately prosper.

Encouragement for the Righteous
The righteous can find peace and assurance in knowing that God is their protector and avenger.

Living a Life of Integrity
Believers are called to live with integrity, trusting that God sees their faithfulness and will reward them in due time.

(15) Their sword.--The lex talionis. (Comp. Psalm 7:15-16.)

Verse 15. - Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Such as "take the sword" often "perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). Absalom's rebellion cost him his life. Marauders would sometimes meet with a stout resistance, and be slain by those whom they had intended to plunder. And their bows shall be broken; i.e. they shall meet with failure. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

[But] their swords
חַ֭רְבָּם (ḥar·bām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

will pierce
תָּב֣וֹא (tā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

their own hearts,
בְלִבָּ֑ם (ḇə·lib·bām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and their bows
וְ֝קַשְּׁתוֹתָ֗ם (wə·qaš·šə·ṯō·w·ṯām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris

will be broken.
תִּשָּׁבַֽרְנָה׃ (tiš·šā·ḇar·nāh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

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Psalm 37:15 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Psalm 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own (Psalm Ps Psa.)