Psalms 37:38 (WEB)

Passage

As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Nearby Context

Psalms 37:36 But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

Psalms 37:38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalms 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Psalms 37:40 Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "transgressors", "shall", "destroyed", "together", "future", and "wicked". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "transgressors" and "shall", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 37's "Mark the perfect man and see the..." into verse 39's "But the salvation of the righteous is...", so "transgressors" and "shall" 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 "transgressors" and "shall" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.