Psalm 37:12
New International Version
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

New Living Translation
The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.

English Standard Version
The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,

Berean Standard Bible
The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,

King James Bible
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

New King James Version
The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.

New American Standard Bible
The wicked plots against the righteous, And gnashes at him with his teeth.

NASB 1995
The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.

NASB 1977
The wicked plots against the righteous, And gnashes at him with his teeth.

Legacy Standard Bible
The wicked schemes against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.

Amplified Bible
The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.

Christian Standard Bible
The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.

American Standard Version
The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

Contemporary English Version
Merciless people make plots against good people and snarl like animals,

English Revised Version
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The wicked person plots against a righteous one and grits his teeth at him.

Good News Translation
The wicked plot against good people and glare at them with hate.

International Standard Version
The wicked person plots against the righteous, and grinds his teeth at him.

Majority Standard Bible
The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,

NET Bible
Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.

New Heart English Bible
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

Webster's Bible Translation
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

World English Bible
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The wicked is devising against the righteous, "" And gnashing his teeth against him.

Young's Literal Translation
The wicked is devising against the righteous, And gnashing against him his teeth.

Smith's Literal Translation
The unjust one meditated against the just, and gnashed upon him with his teeth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sinner shall watch the just man : and shall gnash upon him with his teeth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sinner will observe the just, and he will gnash his teeth over him.

New American Bible
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

New Revised Standard Version
The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The wicked one rages against the righteous one and gnashes his teeth upon him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The wicked plotteth against the righteous, And gnasheth at him with his teeth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The sinner will watch for the righteous, and gnash his teeth upon him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do Not Envy Those who Do Wrong
11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity. 12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, 13but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.…

Cross References
Proverbs 1:11-12
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

Proverbs 4:16
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

Proverbs 24:1-2
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; / for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.

Micah 2:1
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.

Psalm 10:2-4
In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise. / For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. / In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.

Psalm 31:13
For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Psalm 56:5-6
All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise. / They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.

Psalm 64:2-6
Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity, / who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, / ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear. ...

Psalm 140:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men. Protect me from men of violence, / who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.

Isaiah 29:20
For the ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who look for evil will be cut down—

Isaiah 32:7
The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Matthew 10:16-18
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. / But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. / On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

Matthew 26:3-4
At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, / and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

Luke 6:11
But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.


Treasury of Scripture

The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes on him with his teeth.

Psalm 37:32
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

1 Samuel 18:21
And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

1 Samuel 23:7-9
And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars…

plotteth.

Daniel 8:12,24
And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered…

Micah 2:1
Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

gnasheth

Psalm 35:16
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

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Designs Devising Evil Gnash Gnashes Gnasheth Gnashing Lifting Plot Plots Righteous Sinner Teeth Upright Voice Wicked Wrath
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Designs Devising Evil Gnash Gnashes Gnasheth Gnashing Lifting Plot Plots Righteous Sinner Teeth Upright Voice Wicked Wrath
Psalm 37
1. David persuades to patience and confidence in God,
12. by the different estate of the godly and the wicked














The wicked scheme against the righteous
This phrase highlights the ongoing conflict between the wicked and the righteous, a theme prevalent throughout the Psalms and the entire Bible. The term "wicked" refers to those who live in opposition to God's laws and principles. In biblical history, figures like Cain, who plotted against Abel, exemplify this behavior. The scheming of the wicked is often characterized by deceit and malice, as seen in the actions of figures like Haman in the Book of Esther. This conflict is not only physical but spiritual, reflecting the broader battle between good and evil. The righteous, those who follow God's ways, are often targets of such schemes, as their lives stand in contrast to the wicked. This tension is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus warns His followers of persecution for righteousness' sake (Matthew 5:10-12).

and gnash their teeth at them
Gnashing of teeth is a biblical expression of intense anger or frustration. In the cultural context of the Bible, it signifies a deep-seated animosity and a desire to harm. This imagery is used in other parts of Scripture, such as in Acts 7:54, where the crowd gnashes their teeth at Stephen before stoning him. It conveys the idea of the wicked being consumed by their hatred for the righteous. This phrase also foreshadows the ultimate judgment and separation of the wicked from the righteous, as described in Matthew 13:41-42, where gnashing of teeth is associated with the fate of those who reject God. The righteous, however, are called to respond with patience and trust in God's justice, as seen in the life of Jesus, who, despite being reviled, did not retaliate but entrusted Himself to God (1 Peter 2:23).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Wicked
Refers to those who live in opposition to God's ways, often characterized by their sinful actions and intentions.

2. The Righteous
Those who strive to live according to God's commandments and seek to follow His will.

3. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 37, providing wisdom and guidance through his experiences.

4. Ancient Israel
The cultural and historical context in which this Psalm was written, reflecting the struggles between those who follow God and those who do not.

5. God's Judgment
An underlying theme in the Psalm, where God ultimately judges the wicked and vindicates the righteous.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Conflict
Recognize that the tension between the wicked and the righteous is a recurring theme in Scripture, reflecting the spiritual battle between good and evil.

Trust in God's Justice
Despite the schemes of the wicked, believers are called to trust in God's ultimate justice and timing.

Responding to Persecution
Christians are encouraged to respond to persecution with faith and patience, knowing that God sees and will act.

Living Righteously
The call to live righteously remains, even in the face of opposition, as a testimony to God's transformative power.

Hope in God's Promises
Hold onto the promises of God for deliverance and vindication, which provide hope and strength in difficult times.Verse 12. - The wicked plotteth against the just (comp. Psalm 31:13; Psalm 35:4, 7, etc.). Wicked men commonly lay their plots against the righteous, as being less likely to suspect them, and perhaps as less likely to resist their machinations. And gnasheth upon him with his teeth (comp. Psalm 35:16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The wicked
רָ֭שָׁע (rā·šā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

scheme
זֹמֵ֣ם (zō·mêm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2161: To consider, purpose, devise

against the righteous
לַצַּדִּ֑יק (laṣ·ṣad·dîq)
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

and gnash
וְחֹרֵ֖ק (wə·ḥō·rêq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2786: To grate the teeth

their teeth
שִׁנָּֽיו׃ (šin·nāw)
Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8127: A tooth, ivory, a cliff

at them,
עָלָ֣יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Poetry: Psalm 37:12 The wicked plots against the just (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 37:11
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