Psalm 37:12

Psalm 37:12, in plain English

The wicked watch righteous people and hate them for it, scheming against them and seething with rage.

Why it's here

David shifts to describing the actual behavior of wicked people. He's realistic—if you're trying to live faithfully while others aren't, you might face opposition. They'll gnash their teeth, an ancient expression of fury and contempt. This is what righteous people sometimes face.

Who's speaking

David, being honest about the real persecution and opposition the faithful sometimes encounter.

Where it sits in the story

This is exactly what Jesus warned His disciples about: 'They hated me, they will hate you.' John tells us that Herod 'gnashed his teeth' in fury against Stephen. The faithful sometimes do face real opposition, and the Bible never pretends otherwise.

The scholarly reading

The wicked actively plot against the righteous, displaying their animosity through hostile physical gestures.

Language and setting

'Choreshu' (scheme, plot) and 'charaku' (gnash teeth) convey both intellectual malice and visceral hatred. The scene is one of judicial opposition: the wicked are not indifferent but actively antagonistic, employing slander and legal machinations against the righteous. This was the lived reality of the psalm's audience.

Voice

The wisdom teacher, now describing the enemies' hostility—a necessary counterpoint before announcing their futility.

Significance

This anticipates the psalms of lament's depiction of enemies (Psalms 22, 35, 69) and ultimately finds its narrative fulfillment in the Gospels' Passion accounts, where Jesus's enemies gnash their teeth (cf. Acts 7:54).

10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

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.

14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

Read all of Psalm 37 — The temptation to resent the success of evil people is ancient. David's counsel: be still, wait, and trust. The wicked are grass.