The Meaning of Psalms 37:10 Explained

Psalms 37:10

KJV: For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

YLT: And yet a little, and the wicked is not, And thou hast considered his place, and it is not.

Darby: For yet a little while, and the wicked is not; and thou considerest his place, but he is not.

ASV: For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For yet a little while,  and the wicked  [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider  his place,  and it [shall] not [be]. 

What does Psalms 37:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 37:1-17 - A Sure Cure For Fretting
This is an acrostic psalm, grappling with the problem of the inequality of human life and the apparent failure of God to reward His servants and punish His enemies as they deserve. Life and immortality, where we know that the balance will be readjusted, had not then been brought to light, and therefore the solution was far harder before the advent of our Lord than for us.
But though the psalmist's solution is therefore not complete, his teaching of the blessedness of absolute trust in God's providence is very delightful. Fret not thyself; that is, do not give way to passionate resentment or bitter disappointment. Live in God; find your delight in contemplating His nature and His works; roll on Him the decision of your life-choices; trust in Him to supply all your need and work in your behalf. Be silent and rest!
How dramatically this picture of the happy, restful child of God is contrasted with the wicked and his certain doom-like barren pastures scorched by heat, or thin smoke-columns vanishing in the air! "Wait and trust! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 37

1  David persuades to patience and confidence in God,
12  by the different estate of the godly and the wicked

What do the individual words in Psalms 37:10 mean?

For yet a little while and [shall be] no [more] the wicked and indeed you will look carefully for his place but it [shall be] no [more]
וְע֣וֹד מְ֭עַט וְאֵ֣ין רָשָׁ֑ע וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ עַל־ מְקוֹמ֣וֹ וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ

וְע֣וֹד  For  yet 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
מְ֭עַט  a  little  while 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
וְאֵ֣ין  and  [shall  be]  no  [more] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
רָשָׁ֑ע  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
וְהִתְבּוֹנַ֖נְתָּ  and  indeed  you  will  look  carefully 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
מְקוֹמ֣וֹ  his  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
וְאֵינֶֽנּוּ  but  it  [shall  be]  no  [more] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.