Psalms 37

1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.

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

2 For they shall soon wither like the grass, and fade as the green herb.

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 cherish faithfulness.

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

4 So shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and He shall give thee the petitions of thy heart.

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

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.

Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will act.

6 And He will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, and thy right as the noonday.

And he will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

7 Resign thyself unto the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

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 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing.

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

9 For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait for the LORD, they shall inherit the land.

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

10 And yet a little while, and the wicked is no more; yea, thou shalt look well at his place, and he is not.

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

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

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

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

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

13 The Lord doth laugh at him; for He seeth that his day is coming.

The LORD will laugh 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 poor and needy, to slay such as are upright in the way;

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 in the way.

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

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

16 Better is a little that the righteous hath than the abundance of many wicked.

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

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

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

18 The LORD knoweth the days of them that are wholehearted; and their inheritance shall be for ever.

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

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

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

20 For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs — they shall pass away in smoke, they shall pass away.

But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the LORD shall be like the burning of an oven. They will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not; but the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.

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

22 For such as are blessed of Him shall inherit the land; and they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off.

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

23 It is of the LORD that a man's goings are established; and He delighted in his way.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and he delights in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholdeth his hand.

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

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

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

26 All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

All day long he deals graciously and lends, and his offspring are a blessing.

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

Turn away from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

28 For the LORD loveth justice, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

For the LORD loves justice, and doesn't forsake his faithful ones. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

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

30 The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh justice.

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

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps slide.

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

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

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

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor suffer him to be condemned when he is judged.

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 exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt 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 the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a leafy tree in its native soil.

I have seen the wicked wielding great power, and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.

36 But one passed by, and, lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

And I passed by, and look, he was not. And I looked for him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the man of integrity, and behold the upright; for there is a future for the man of peace.

Observe the blameless, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

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

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

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

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

40 And the LORD helpeth them, and delivereth them; He delivereth them from the wicked, and saveth them, because they have taken refuge in Him.

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