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11 But the oppressed will possess the land
and enjoy great prosperity.[a]
12 Evil men plot against the godly[b]
and viciously attack them.[c]
13 The Lord laughs in disgust[d] at them,
for he knows that their day is coming.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:11 tn Heb “and they will take delight in (see v. 4) abundance of peace.”
  2. Psalm 37:12 tn Or “innocent.” The singular is used here in a representative sense; the typical evildoer and the typical godly individual are in view.
  3. Psalm 37:12 tn Heb “and gnashes at him with his teeth” (see Ps 35:16). The language may picture the evil men as wild animals. The active participles in v. 12 are used for purposes of dramatic description.
  4. Psalm 37:13 tn Heb “laughs.” As the next line indicates, this refers to derisive laughter (see 2:4). The Hebrew imperfect verbal form describes the action from the perspective of an eye-witness who is watching the divine response as it unfolds before his eyes.
  5. Psalm 37:13 tn Heb “for he sees that his day is coming.” As the following context makes clear (vv. 15, 17, 19-20), “his day” refers to the time when God will destroy evildoers.