Recently, for the first time in years, two of Jehovah’s Witnesses rang our doorbell. Now that Covid restrictions are gone, it is time for the real apocalypse again. And the JWs are not shying away from technology. When they set up shop in public space, they no longer hold up copies of The Watchtower or Awake! but a tablet computer. When they visit you, they no longer hand over tracts but present bible verses on their smartphones.
Now that fears about the war in Ukraine are on our minds, the verses to show are Psalm 37:10-11, accompanied by the question if we believe that there will ever be peace. Do we? Let us read the verses first, starting with the translation used by Jehovah’s Witnesses:
10 Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; you will look at where they were, and they will not be there.
11 But the meek will possess the earth, and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.
For something more mainstream, the New International Version:
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
With the gravitas of centuries, the King James Version:
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
And finally, Darby’s translation:
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked is not; and thou considerest his place, but he is not.
11 But the meek shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of prosperity.
I included the latter to commemorate the “father of dispensationalism” who ultimately made the sale of 65 million copies of the “Left behind” series possible, because he included two footnotes: one indicating that “but he is not” might also be translated as “but it is not”, and one explaining that “prosperity” may be replaced by “peace”.
So there are certain wicked, and then they are gone. But who are they, and how many? The JWs at our door clearly had the idea of a future world without any wicked. But only two translations prefer the plural, the other two, the wicked as individual. And there is more to discuss: two see the meek possess, and two inherit; two speak of the land, and two of the earth; two promise peace only, and two also prosperity.1
From here, I can see at least four exegetical pathways for such parts of scripture:
The personal (or psychological): maybe you are one of the righteous, and the wicked “plot against you and gnash their teeth at you”. Be patient – and read the rest of the psalm. Or maybe you are one of the wicked, or in danger of becoming one of them? Come to your senses – and read the rest of the psalm.
The collective (or sociological): everything is about power. Some groups (the wicked) are oppressing others. Social justice can prevail only when the powerful oppressors have lost their place, and are no more.
The symbolic (or universal): The world has always been a certain way, and always will be. Pay attention to where in the cycle you are. Do not fret; trust; commit; be still; refrain.
The eschatological (or utopian): All of history is heading for a time when the wicked will be no more, leaving only the meek. But is meekness to be defined ex-ante (today’s meek shall prevail, and make it into the new world) or ex-post (those that remain will be called the meek)?
The personal and collective are dealing with place, the symbolic and eschatological, with time. The personal and symbolic fit with Thomas Sowell’s constrained vision, the collective and eschatological, with the unconstrained vision. Postmodern man mostly opts for the collective and eschatological. In that, he is similar to fringe denominations like Jehovah’s Witnesses.2 The personal and symbolic are the mind-set of the saint, a much better example to follow.
Do I believe that there will ever be peace? There is on earth peace, good will toward men. But it is the peace of God, which surpasses every understanding.
These difficulties are not unique to English translations; e.g., in German translations one can visit a similar zoo of expressions.
If you want, call them a sect. Their influence is limited; their number in Germany is of the order of magnitude of people who have got their sixth Covid jab. Who can surpass that? The Seventh-Jab Adventists?
Couple of thoughts about Don't Fret Because of Evildoers.
Poking through Biblehub I see the word "meek" can be read as "afflicted", as in "poor, weak and afflicted Israel", as in "the oppressed" or "the humble(d)".
The word "peace" is sa-lo-wm (shalom). Strange to see it rendered as "prosperity". Doesn't that put the cart before the horse?
Thanks.
Further on in the psalm we are told "Depart from evil, and do good." A personal instruction for sure.