Psalms 37

1 Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.

By David. Do not fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Also delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.

Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

6 He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.

he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.

8 Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

9 For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he is not there.

11 But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.

But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,

The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

13 but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.

The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.

Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.

The LORD knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

19 In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.

But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the LORD shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.

The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous give generously.

22 Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.

For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.

A man’s steps are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.

24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.

Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the LORD holds him up with his hand.

25 I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

26 They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.

All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

27 Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.

Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

28 For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.

The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

32 Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,

The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.

33 the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.

The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

Wait for the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,

I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

36 yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.

Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.

But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.

The LORD helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.