Psalms 37

1 [A Psalm] of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

Do not be bothered/upset by what wicked [people do]. Do not desire to have the things that people who do wrong/evil have,

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

because they will soon disappear, like grass withers [in the hot sun] and dries up. Just like some green plants [come up but] die [during the hot summer], evil people will soon die also.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Trust in Yahweh, and do what is good; if you do that, you will live safely in the land [that he has given you], and you will live peacefully [MET].

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Be delighted with all that Yahweh [does for you]; if you do that, he will give you the things that you desire most.

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

Commit to Yahweh all the things that you plan to do; trust in him, and he will do [whatever is needed to help you].

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

He will show [as clearly] as the sunlight that you (are innocent/have done nothing that is wrong); he will show [as clearly] as [the sun at] noontime [SIM] that all the things that you have decided are just.

7 Rest in 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.

Be quiet in Yahweh’s presence, and wait patiently for him [to do what you want him to do]. Do not be bothered/upset when what evil men do is successful, when they are able to do the wicked things that they plan.

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

Do not be angry [about what wicked people do]. Do not want to punish them yourself. Do not be envious of such people because you will only harm [yourself if you try to envy them].

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

[Some day Yahweh] will get rid of wicked people, but those who trust in Yahweh will live [safely] in the land [that he has given to them].

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

Soon the wicked will disappear. If you look for them, they will be gone.

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

But those who are humble will live safely in their land. They will happily enjoy living peacefully and having the other good things [that Yahweh gives them].

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

Wicked people plan to harm righteous/godly people; they snarl at them [MET] [like wild animals].

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

But Yahweh laughs [at them] because he knows that some day [MTY] [he will judge and punish] the wicked people.

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.

Wicked people pull out their swords/daggers and they put strings on their bows, ready to kill people who are poor [DOU] and to slaughter those who live righteously.

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

But they will be killed by their own swords/daggers, and their bows will be broken.

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

It is good to be righteous/godly even if you do not have many possessions, but it is bad to be wicked, even if you are very wealthy,

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

because [Yahweh] will completely take away the strength of wicked people, but he will (sustain/take care of) people who live righteously.

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

Every day Yahweh cares about those who have not done any evil things; the things that Yahweh gives them will last forever.

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

They will survive when calamities occur; when there are famines, they will still have plenty to eat.

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 wicked people will die; [just] like the beautiful wild flowers in the fields [die under the hot sun] and disappear like smoke [MET], Yahweh [will cause] his enemies to suddenly disappear.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

The wicked people borrow [money], but they are not able to repay it; righteous/godly people, [in contrast, have enough money that] they can give generously [to others].

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

Those whom Yahweh has blessed will live safely in the land that he has given to them, but he will get rid of those people whom he has cursed.

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

Yahweh protects those who do what is pleasing to him, and he will enable them to walk confidently, wherever they go;

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

even if they stumble, they will not fall down, because Yahweh holds them by 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 was young [previously], and now I am an old man, but [in all those years], I have never seen righteous/godly people being abandoned by Yahweh, nor have I seen that their children [needed to] beg for food.

26 [He is] ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed [is] blessed.

Righteous/Godly people are generous, and happily lend [money to others], and their children are a blessing to them.

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

Turn away from [doing] evil, and do what is good. If you do that, you [and your descendants] will live in your land forever.

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

[That will happen] because Yahweh likes to see people doing what is just, and he will never forsake righteous/godly people. He will protect them forever; but he will get rid of the children of wicked people.

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

Righteous/Godly people will own the land [that Yahweh promised to give to them], and they will live there forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Righteous people give wise [advice to others], and they [MTY] say what is just/fair.

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

They continually think about God’s laws; they do not stray from [God’s] path.

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

Those who are evil wait in ambush for righteous people in order to kill them [as they walk by].

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

But Yahweh will not abandon righteous people, and allow (them to fall into their enemies’ hands/their enemies harm them). And he will not allow righteous people to be condemned when someone takes them to a judge [to be put on trial].

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

Be patient and trust that Yahweh [will help you], and (walk on his paths/do what he wants you to do). [If you do that], he will honor you by giving you the land [that he promised], and when he gets rid of the wicked, you will see it happen.

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

I have seen that wicked people who (act like tyrants/terrify people) [sometimes] prosper, like trees that grow well in fertile soil,

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

when I looked [later], they were gone! I searched for them, but [Yahweh had caused] them to disappear.

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

Notice the people who have not done evil things, those who act righteously: their descendants will have peace in their inner beings.

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

But Yahweh will get rid of the wicked; he will also get rid of their descendants (OR, as a result, they will not have any descendants).

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

Yahweh rescues righteous people; in times of trouble he protects them [MET].

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.

Yahweh helps them and saves them; he rescues them from [being attacked/harmed by] wicked people because they go to him to be protected [MET].