Psalms 37:12 (WEB)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Psalms 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.

Psalms 37:11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 37:12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

Psalms 37:13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

Psalms 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wicked", "plots", "against", "just", "gnashes", and "teeth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wicked" and "plots", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "But the humble shall inherit the land..." into verse 13's "The Lord will laugh at him for...", so "wicked" and "plots" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wicked" and "plots" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.