Psalm 37:13

Psalm 37:13, in plain English

But God sees it all and actually laughs—not because He finds it funny, but because He knows their schemes will fail and their judgment is coming.

Why it's here

After describing the wicked person's rage, David reminds us: God is watching. The wicked don't realize they're being observed by Someone far more powerful, and that Someone sees their end already. The 'laughter' is the confidence of Someone who knows how the story ends.

Who's speaking

David, offering comfort to the threatened by reminding them that God is neither surprised by evil nor powerless against it.

Where it sits in the story

This echoes throughout Scripture—God laughs at His enemies in Psalms 2 as well. It's not mockery; it's the confidence of ultimate authority. Even when the righteous are afraid, God is secure in His power and justice.

The scholarly reading

God observes the wicked's schemes with detachment and sovereign amusement, knowing their judgment approaches.

Language and setting

The image of God laughing ('yischar') appears throughout the Psalter (2:4, 59:8) and denotes not mockery but the divine perspective that transcends human conflict. The phrase 'ki ro'eh yom-lo' (seeing that his day is coming) suggests inexorable judgment—the wicked's appointed time arrives despite their scheming.

Voice

The wisdom teacher, invoking divine perspective to comfort the righteous by showing the enemy's impotence against God's sovereignty.

Significance

This divine laughter appears in the Psalter's royal psalms (especially Psalm 2, where God laughs at rebellious nations) and establishes a theological principle: divine sovereignty renders human opposition ultimately futile. It comforts the persecuted by transcending their immediate experience.

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.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

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.