The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Psalm 37 (36):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Cease from anger, and leave rage; have no emulation to do evil.

Douay-Rheims · Hebrew numbering, Septuagint numbering in brackets.

הֶ֣רֶף מֵ֭אַף וַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵמָ֑ה אַל־תִּ֝תְחַ֗ר אַךְ־לְהָרֵֽעַ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

8 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 10 commentaries

Augustine of Hippo

5th centuryChurch Father

I urge you to reflect upon your faith in Christ: Have you genuinely believed in Him, and if so, what has brought you to this belief? What promises has He made to you? If Jesus guaranteed you joy in this life, then by all means, express your grievances against Him and voice your discontent when witnessing the success of those who do not follow Him. But what assurance has He truly given you? What other than the promise of resurrection? What value, then, does this present life hold? My response is that it is filled with what belongs solely to Him. Or do you consider it beneath you, O disciple and servant, to walk the path your Teacher has set? Did you not learn from Him that a disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor is a servant greater than his master (Matthew 10:24)?

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For your sake, He suffered the agonies of scourging, ridicule, crucifixion, and death. What of these trials did He deserve? And what do you, a fallible being, merit? Thus, maintain clarity in your vision, lest it be clouded by resentment: put away your anger and halt your indignation.

Why do you let anger consume you? What drives you to blaspheme in your fervor? Regarding those who pursue wickedness, it's better to release your anger and abandon the fury that stirs within. Are you not aware of the danger that such resentment brings? It might lead you to accuse God of injustice. Take a moment to reflect! Why does one person thrive while another suffers? Ponder the implications of this thought and dismiss the harmful idea. Set aside your anger and allow yourself to regain clarity, so that when you reflect, you can acknowledge, ‘My spirit is troubled with fury.’ What is this spirit if not the eye of faith? I urge you to look through the lens of your faith. You have placed your trust in Christ—what led you to believe? What had He assured you?

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If Christ has promised you the joy of this earthly existence, then grumble against Him; in fact, grumble against Him when you witness the prosperity of the wicked. What joy has He truly promised? Only ‘the resurrection of the dead.’ But what about in this life? That which was His to endure. His portion, I contend! Do you, as a servant and follower, disregard the suffering your Lord endured?

Basil the Great

4th centuryChurch Father

By cultivating a pure heart, you can effectively eliminate the bitter roots of impatience and eradicate many destructive desires at their inception. Betrayal, skepticism, distrust, spite, wickedness, arrogance, and a multitude of similar vices stem from this sin. Therefore, we must guard against allowing such profound evil within us—this spiritual affliction, confusion of the mind, estrangement from God, the denial of our true brotherhood, the spark of conflict, and the source of calamities. This malevolent spirit, which emerges from within our very souls, resides like a restless intruder, obstructing the entrance of the Holy Spirit.

Athanasius the Great

4th centuryChurch Father

Refrain from wrath and abandon fury. Do not envy the successes of the wicked; instead, anticipate the outcome, for in the end, you will witness their downfall. Anger seeks retribution, and justice is the response to wrongdoing. Avoid covetousness and choose righteousness. Understand this clearly: those who place their trust in divine hope and commit to a life of goodness will live in serenity and harmony, continuously cherishing a clear conscience. Conversely, those who depend on fleeting success will face swift decline and deprivation of all remembrance.

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

A balanced perspective is essential, as anger can lead to destruction not only for the average individual but also for the wise. David advises the wise to abandon anger, warning that the fire of wrath will continue to consume if it is not contained. He teaches that relinquishing rage signifies a natural overpowering; emotions can distort your judgment, leading to feelings of guilt or bitterness, and engender indignation—but it should not reach a level that causes you to lose clarity. Let go of the fury, restrain it, to prevent it from drawing you into sin.

Even if you manage to steer clear of the previously mentioned passions, wrath will inevitably arise, as Scripture advises, “Cease from anger and forsake wrath” (Psalm 36:8). The reckless are burdened with numerous vices. Anger is a harmful passion; it often ignites within a person against their will, transforming someone who intended merely to discipline gently into one who acts in rage. This intense fury can lead to actions far more severe than intended—wounding innocents or even taking the lives of friends and family due to uncontrolled rage. Thus, the wise declare, “Anger ruins even the prudent” (Proverbs 15:1). These insightful words from Solomon illustrate that not only ordinary individuals are affected by anger, but even the wise fall victim to it.

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David advises the prudent with the exhortation to “Cease from anger,” for once you are consumed by it, you may not be able to stop until the fire has entirely engulfed you.

Cast aside anger. Natural feelings may push you towards it, whether due to guilt or offense, but you should never lose your sense of balance. Discard anger and put an end to it; otherwise, it may lead you into sin. As it is stated, “When you are angry, do not sin” (Psalm 4:5). David does not provoke you to anger but suggests that in certain situations, it is appropriate not to completely suppress your feelings. Instead, he offers guidance so that the harmful effects of that anger do not spread throughout your being. He encourages, “Be angry!” Just as a physician does not immediately provide treatment for an ailment, if pain is overwhelming, he must first apply remedies that bring relief. When fever stirs, it is time for medicine; even the thirsty may not receive a drink right away. The physician doesn’t simply say, “Stop being ill” when fever disrupts a person; he advises patience until the fever has broken, until inflammation subsides. The prophet, too, does not instruct a person suffering from various ailments and emotional turmoils simply with, “Do not be angry!” Instead, he counsels, “Cease from anger and forsake rage! Do not sin, for strong anger is a teacher of transgression.” Another wise figure noted, “Let not the sun go down in your anger” (Eph. 4:26), warning that if you postpone addressing anger, you might allow it to simmer, leading to tormenting thoughts that invade the depths of your heart: “Avenge your offense; after all, you are only human!”

To deny revenge is perceived as a sign of weakness. A subordinate may scorn you, a sibling may betray you, or a friend may dishonor you, and yet you refrain from avenging your humiliation! You must take a stand, draw your sword, and dispel your anguish through the downfall of your adversary! A man who eliminates his enemy is seen as valiant; he earns respect for having avenged himself so that others might think twice before doing him harm. Such sentiments only serve to exacerbate anger and frustration, thereby fulfilling the adage: “Anger destroys even the prudent” (Proverbs 15:1).

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not be envious, for it leads to wrongdoing. The unrighteous will ultimately be destroyed. Do not focus on their success; instead, wait patiently for the conclusion and witness their downfall. See v. 7.

Euthymios Zigabenos

11th centuryCommentator

When you notice that the unjust and the wicked appear to be content, he cautions you not to feel disturbed or resentful towards them, as their happiness is not rooted in true worth. Indeed, your affection for goodness brings you greater joy. Here, anger and indignation are synonymous. To discern the distinction, refer to the opening of Psalm 6 (Psalm 6:2). Some passions do not affect everyone, yet even those of average disposition can turn away from them based on their circumstances. However, this unclean passion—anger—can also ensnare those who seem wise, affecting all, that is, all except for those who are truly virtuous, should such individuals exist.

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If someone is driven by jealousy to mimic both good and evil, David specifically warns against the emulation of evil alone, and not of good. It is noteworthy that the Psalmist begins the psalm with a somewhat perplexing term, ‘Be not zealous,’ yet later employs clearer language, ultimately clarifying this message. By reiterating these phrases multiple times, he seeks to engrave his teachings more profoundly in the hearts of his audience.

Irenaeus (Klementjewsky)

18th centuryCommentator

This statement serves as a reiteration and clarification of the initial section: throughout the entire psalm, the same themes are restated and emphasized to ensure they are more easily understood and firmly retained. Initially, He instructed, “Be not jealous of the wicked,” and here, echoing that sentiment, He advises, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.” This means that when you observe the wicked thriving in the world, do not allow yourself to be troubled or filled with rage, nor question, “Where is God’s justice, where is His Providence?” Furthermore, in the opening verse, He cautioned, “

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See not them that do iniquity,” and now He reaffirms and elaborates on this message by saying, “Be not zealous for evil.” Do not align yourself with the wicked out of envy nor emulate the immoral actions of those whose success you begrudge. He further states that the evildoers will be consumed, illuminating the earlier message: like grass, they will quickly fade away. Ultimately, He adds, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth,” reinforcing the idea He expressed previously to “Trust in the Lord and dwell in the land.” Those who wait patiently and peacefully for His promises demonstrate faith in the Lord’s ability to fulfill what He has pledged. Thus, although wicked individuals may seem to prosper momentarily, their time is limited; they will be removed from the earth and cast into Gehenna for eternal suffering. In contrast, those who turn away from deceit and unrighteousness, placing their hope in the Lord for their reward, will inherit the earth, meaning they will dwell in peace as if it were their own everlasting possession. The people of Israel held possession of their ancestral land as a supreme blessing from God, which is why it is referenced here and in verse 3, as well as in other parts of this psalm, as a symbol of true prosperity. However, the righteous, when they depart to be with God, may leave behind their earthly inheritance but will instead receive heaven, along with a new earth filled with all its riches, in accordance with the promise, “He will set them over all His possessions.” (Matthew 24:47).

Psalter with Commentaries (Cave Monastery in Kiew)

19th centuryCommentator

Do not harbor anger or sorrow towards God for this situation, as the unrighteous may experience temporary success. Instead, remain steadfast in the ways of the Lord, for His law is truly good, far surpassing the value of vast riches in gold and silver (Jerome, Athanasius, Theodoret).

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.