Psalms 37:18
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
The LORD knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
American King James Version (AKJV)
The LORD knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; And their inheritance shall be for ever.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
The days of the upright are numbered by the Lord, and their heritage will be for ever.
Webster's Revision
The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
World English Bible
Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
English Revised Version (ERV)
The LORD knoweth the days of the perfect: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Clarke's Psalms 37:18 Bible Commentary
The Lord knoweth the days of the upright - He is acquainted with all his circumstances, severings, and ability to bear them; and he will either shorten his trials or increase his power. The Lord also approves of the man and his concerns; and his inheritance shall be for ever. He shall have God for his portion, here and hereafter. This is probably another indirect promise to the captives that they shall be restored to their own land. See Psalm 37:11.
Barnes's Psalms 37:18 Bible Commentary
The Lord knoweth the days of the upright - See the notes at Psalm 1:6. He knows how long they will live, and all that will happen to them. He sees their whole course of life; he sees the end. It is implied here that his eyes are on all the allotted days of their life; on all that has been ordained for them in the whole course of their life; and that nothing can shorten the days appointed to them. The wicked expect to live, hope to live, make their arrangements to live; but their eyes cannot rest on the future, and they cannot see the end - cannot tell precisely when they will be cut off. Some unexpected calamity - something which they cannot foresee - may come upon them, and cut short their days long before the expected thee; but this cannot happen in respect to Him whose eyes are on the righteous. Nothing can prevent their reaching the thee which he has fixed as the termination of their lives.
And their inheritance shall be forever - Shall be permanent, enduring. Perhaps all that was implied in tiffs language, as it was used by the psalmist, was that they would "continue," or would not be cut off as the wicked are; that is, that righteousness would contribute to length of days upon the earth (compare Psalm 37:9); yet the "language" suggests a higher idea, and is applicable to the righteous in respect to the promise that they will be put in "everlasting" possession of that which they "inherit" from God; that is, that they will be literally blessed forever. They will have a sure inheritance on earth, and it will endure to all eternity in another world.
Wesley's Psalms 37:18 Bible Commentary
37:18 Knoweth - Observes with care and affection. The days - All things which befal them, their dangers and fears, and suffering.For ever - To them and their seed for ever: and when they die their inheritance is not lost, but exchanged for one infinitely better.