Reflections On Good And Evil

 "Do not be annoyed with evil people nor be envious of wrongdoers.

For they will fade as any green herb and soon be gone, like withered grass.

Trust in YAHWEH and do good; dwell in the land and live on it.

Make YAHWEH your delight; and HE will grant your heart's desire.

Commit your way to YAHWEH; put your trust in HIM and let HIM act.

Then will your revenge come, beautiful as the dawn, and the justification of your cause, bright as the noonday sun.

Keep calm before YAHWEH, wait for HIM in patience; do not fret if others succeed when they carry out evil schemes.

Refrain from anger, turn away from wrath; fret not, for it only leads to evil.

Remember this: the wicked will perish; but those who hope in YAHWEH will inherit the land."

- Psalm 37:1-9

(This psalm offers a very simple solution to the problem of evil which will satisfy few today.  Nevertheless, the act of faith that prompts is not only touching but also fully justified.  If this were not true, we could not recite the psalm with conviction.  But once we have enlarged the perspective, beyond this present life--which the psalmist has not done--we can take the psalm to ourselves.  The 'little longer' that a good man has to wait for his reward, may be all the rest of his life.  This is s short time, when he thinks of the life to come.  Besides, there is also the vertical perception: underneath, the denunciation of 'the wicked man,' he should see the condemnation of wickedness itself, in our own selves especially.)

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