Psalms 37

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be you envious against the workers of iniquity.

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

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

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

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed.

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

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD: and he shall give you the desires of your heart.

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

5 Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

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

6 And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday.

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

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

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.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not yourself in any way to do evil.

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

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

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

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, you shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

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

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

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

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

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

13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he sees that his day is coming.

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

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

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

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

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

16 A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.

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

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

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

18 The LORD knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

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

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

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

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

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.

21 The wicked borrows, and pays not again: but the righteous shows mercy, and gives.

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

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

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

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.

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

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding 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 once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed is blessed.

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

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

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

28 For the LORD loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

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.

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

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

30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of judgment.

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

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

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

32 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him.

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

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

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

34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

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.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

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

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

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

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

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

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

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

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

40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

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