Psalms 37:37-38

37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! ¹ 

For the one who promotes peace has a future. ² 

37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; ³ 

evil men have no future. ⁴ 

[37:37]  ¹ tn Or “upright.”

[37:37]  ² tn 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. NEB, NRSV).

[37:38]  ³ tn Or “destroyed together.” In this case the psalmist pictures judgment sweeping them away as a group.

[37:38]  ⁴ tn Heb “the end of evil men is cut off.” As in v. 37, some interpret אַחֲרִית (’akharit, “end”) as referring to offspring (see Ps 109:13). The perfect verbal forms in v. 38 probably express general truths. Another option is that they are used emphatically to state with certitude that the demise of the wicked is as good as done.