Where is Psalms 37:4 located in Scripture?

Psalms 37:4 is found in Psalms, chapter 37, verse 4.

What Does Psalms 37:4 Mean?

Psalms 37:4 meaning: how God gives us the desires of our hearts when we delight in Him

Divine satisfactiondelight thyself · desires of thine heart · in the LORD

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Clear Bible Translation

Modern English

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

King James Version

Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

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Language, Structure, and Intent

Why do the wicked seem to prosper while the godly struggle? David flips conventional wisdom by revealing that true satisfaction comes not from getting what we want, but from wanting what God wants. When someone genuinely delights in the Lord—finding joy in His character, presence, and purposes—their desires begin to align with His will. The promise isn't that God becomes a cosmic vending machine, but that a heart captivated by divine beauty will increasingly desire what God desires to give.

This promise sits within David's meditation on the age-old problem of evil's apparent success. Surrounded by counsel about trusting God despite injustice, this verse offers the positive alternative to fretting over wrongdoers. The Hebrew word 'anag (delight) suggests luxurious enjoyment, the kind of pleasure a king takes in his finest treasures. David presents delighting in God as the antidote to envying the prosperity of the wicked.

King David wrote this acrostic psalm, likely during a period when he witnessed injustice and the prosperity of evildoers. The psalm reflects the wisdom tradition's wrestling with theodicy—why bad things happen to good people.

Read the full chapter: Psalms 37 →

Parallel Passages

Jeremiah 29:11 →Connects divine satisfaction with divine sovereignty
Psalms 46:10 →Connects divine satisfaction with divine sovereignty
Romans 8:28 →Connects divine satisfaction with providence
Philippians 4:6 →Connects divine satisfaction with prayer

Bible Verses About Purpose Bible Verses About Direction Bible Verses About Wisdom

Present-Day Relevance

Rather than demanding God fulfill our wish list, we're invited to cultivate genuine enjoyment of God Himself through worship, Scripture, and prayer. As we do, our desires naturally shift toward things that bring Him glory and align with His kingdom purposes.

Book Summary

The Book of Psalms

Psalm 1: Two Paths

This psalm describes two paths. The blessed person does not follow the counsel of the ungodly, does not stand in the way of sinners, and does not sit among the scornful. Instead, this person delights in the law of the LORD and thinks on it day and night.

That person is compared to a tree planted by streams of water that produces fruit in season and keeps its leaf from withering, and their way prospers. The ungodly are not like that; they are like chaff driven by the wind. The psalm ends by saying the ungodly do not stand in the judgment or remain among the righteous, because the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly perishes. Psalm 2: The Anointed King This psalm speaks about nations and rulers stirring up unrest and setting themselves against the LORD and against his Anointed. They speak as if they can break free from God's rule, as though his bonds can be thrown off. The LORD who sits in the heavens responds with scorn and speaks in his wrath. He declares his king set upon Zion, and the Anointed speaks of the decree: he is called the Son and is given the nations for an inheritance. The psalm warns kings and judges to be wise, to serve the LORD with fear, and to rejoice with trembling, ending with a call to honor the Son and a statement that blessed are all who trust in him. Psalm 3: A Psalm of David (Fleeing from Absalom) A Psalm of David, when he flees from Absalom his son. David speaks of many enemies rising up against him and many voices saying there is no help for him in God. He describes pressure on every side and the shame those words bring. David then speaks directly of the LORD as his shield, his glory, and the one who lifts up his head. He says he cries to the LORD and receives an answer from God's holy hill, and he lies down and sleeps because the LORD sustains him. He says he is not afraid though tens of thousands set themselves against him, and he calls on the LORD to arise, asking for deliverance and blessing for God's people.

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Frequently Asked

What is the context of Psalms 37:4?: King David wrote this acrostic psalm, likely during a period when he witnessed injustice and the prosperity of evildoers. The psalm reflects the wisdom tradition's wrestling with theodicy—why bad things happen to good people.
Why does Psalms 37:4 matter today?: Rather than demanding God fulfill our wish list, we're invited to cultivate genuine enjoyment of God Himself through worship, Scripture, and prayer. As we do, our desires naturally shift toward things that bring Him glory and align with His kingdom purposes.
Where is Psalms 37:4 located in Scripture?: Psalms, chapter 37, verse 4. Read Psalms 37 →

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