Back to Today
Psalms 37:4
Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Permalink Verse page
Interpretation

Wisdom shapes a desires that is practiced in ordinary routines in Psalms 37:4—consider "also" and "delight". Entrust desires in prayers we actually pray—make holiness concrete. Wisdom & Worship highlights: Poetry and wisdom teach reverent, honest life before God—through praise, lament, and reflection.

Context

In Psalms (Poetry/Wisdom), developing desires. Read in Psalms 37, its force becomes clearer. It also intersects wisdom & worship. Listen for “also” alongside “delight”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early sources associate Psalms with David and additional composers. In current research on Psalms, Temple hymnal compiled from many collections and voices.. Scholars commonly date Psalms Assembled across monarchic and post‑exilic eras.. Here the thread of wisdom & worship comes into view. Psalm headings and sequencing hint at editorial artistry.

More details
Traditional:David & others
Modern scholarship:Temple hymnbook with multiple collections and authors.
Date:Monarchy to post‑exilic.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Hebrew text is stable across all Masoretic manuscripts. The verb 'delight' (anag) and the promise of 'desires of your heart' show no variation. The Septuagint translates similarly. Though no Dead Sea Scrolls preserve this exact verse, the psalm tradition at Qumran supports the Masoretic Text. The divine name YHWH appears consistently.
Sources & witness notes
MT