Psalms 37

1 [A Psalm] of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, and be not envious of them that work unrighteousness;

A psalm of David. Do not be irritated because of evildoers; do not be envious of those who act unrighteously.

2 for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and fade as the green herb.

For they will soon dry up as the grass and wither as the green plants.

3 Confide in Jehovah, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on faithfulness;

Trust in Yahweh and do what is good; settle in the land and graze in faithfulness.

4 and delight thyself in Jehovah, and he will give thee the desires of thy heart.

Then delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit thy way unto Jehovah, and rely upon him: he will bring [it] to pass;

Give your ways to Yahweh; trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.

6 and he will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

He will display your justice like the daylight and your innocence like the day at noon.

7 Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth mischievous devices to pass.

Be still before Yahweh and wait patiently for him. Do not be angry if someone succeeds in what he does, or when he makes evil plots.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself: it [would be] only to do evil.

Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not worry. This only makes trouble.

9 For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait on Jehovah, they shall possess the land.

Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh will inherit the land.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked is not; and thou considerest his place, but he is not.

In a little while the evil man will disappear; you will look at his place, but he will be gone.

11 But the meek shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of prosperity.

But the meek will inherit the land and will delight in great prosperity.

12 The wicked plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth his teeth against him.

The wicked man plots against the righteous and he grinds his teeth in rage against him.

13 The Lord laugheth at him; for he seeth that his day is coming.

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

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the afflicted and needy, to slay those that are upright in [the] way:

The wicked have drawn out their swords and have bent their bows to cast down the oppressed and needy, to kill those who are upright.

15 their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

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

16 The little that the righteous hath is better than the abundance of many wicked;

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

17 for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.

For the arms of the wicked people will be broken, but Yahweh supports the righteous people.

18 Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; and their inheritance shall be for ever:

Yahweh watches over the blameless day by day, and their heritage will be forever.

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

They will not be ashamed when times are bad. When famine comes, they will have enough to eat.

20 For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume, like smoke shall they consume away.

But evil men will perish. Yahweh's enemies will be like the glory of the pastures; they will be consumed and disappear in the smoke.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; but the righteous is gracious and giveth:

The wicked person borrows but does not repay, but the righteous person is generous and gives.

22 for those blessed of him shall possess the land, and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.

Those who are blessed by God will inherit the land; those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23 The steps of a man are established by Jehovah, and he delighteth in his way:

It is by Yahweh that a man's steps are established, the man whose way is commendable in God's sight.

24 though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for Jehovah upholdeth his hand.

Though he stumbles, he will not fall down, for Yahweh is holding him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread:

I was young and now am old; I have never seen the righteous person abandoned or his children begging for bread.

26 all the day he is gracious and lendeth, and his seed shall be a blessing.

All the day long he is gracious and lends, and his children become a blessing.

27 Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for evermore;

Turn away from evil and do what is right; then you will be safe forever.

28 for Jehovah loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: They are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

For Yahweh loves justice and does not abandon his faithful followers. They are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

29 The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell therein for ever.

The righteous will inherit the land and live there forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous proffereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh judgment;

The mouth of the righteous person speaks wisdom and increases justice.

31 the law of his God is in his heart; his goings shall not slide.

The law of his God is in his heart; his feet will not slip.

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him:

The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him.

33 Jehovah will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Yahweh will not abandon him into the evil person's hand or condemn him when he is judged.

34 Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, and he will exalt thee to possess the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].

Wait for Yahweh and keep his way, and he will raise you up to possess the land. You will see when the wicked are cut off.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading like a green tree in its native soil:

I have seen the wicked and terrifying person spread out like a green tree in its native soil.

36 but he passed away, and behold, he was not; and I sought him, but he was not found.

But when I passed by again, he was not there. I looked for him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect, and behold the upright, for the end of [that] man is peace;

Observe the man of integrity, and mark the upright; there is a good future for a man of peace.

38 but the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Sinners will be totally destroyed; the future for the wicked man is cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh; he protects them in the times of trouble.

40 And Jehovah will help them and deliver them: he will deliver them from the wicked, and save them; for they trust in him.

Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from evil men and saves them because they have taken refuge in him.