Psalms 37

1 “A psalm of David.” Be not thou angry on account of the wicked, Nor be envious of those who do iniquity.

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

2 For soon shall they be cut down like grass, And wither like 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; Abide in the land, and delight in faithfulness.

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

4 Place thy delight in the LORD. And he will give thee thy heart's desires.

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

5 Commit thy way to the LORD; Trust in him, and he will give thee success!

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

6 He will cause thy justice to shine forth like the light, And thy righteousness like the noonday's brightness.

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

7 Hope thou patiently on the LORD, And in him place thy trust! Be not angry on account of the prosperous, —On account of him that deviseth deceit!

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; give not way to wrath; Be not provoked, so as to do evil!

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

9 For evil-doers shall be rooted out; But they who trust in 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 Yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more; Thou mayst look for his place, and he 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 shall inherit the land, And delight themselves in the fulness of prosperity.

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

12 The wicked man plotteth against the just, And gnasheth at him with his teeth.

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

13 The Lord laugheth 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 draw the sword, And bend their bow, To cast down the afflicted and the needy, And to slay the 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 Their swords shall enter their own hearts, And their bows shall be broken in pieces.

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

16 Better is the little of the righteous man Than the great abundance of the 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 will uphold the righteous.

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

18 The LORD careth for the life of the upright, And their inheritance shall endure for ever.

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

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall have enough.

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

20 But the wicked shall perish; Yea, the enemies of the LORD shall be consumed, like the glory of the fields; They shall be consumed into smoke.

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 borroweth, and repayeth not; But the righteous is merciful and bountiful.

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

22 For they who are blessed by God shall inherit the land, And they who are cursed by him shall be rooted out.

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 the good man are directed by the LORD; He delighteth himself in his way.

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

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, For the LORD holdeth him by the 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 offspring 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 He is ever merciful and lendeth, And his offspring shall be blessed.

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

27 Depart from evil, and do good; So thou shalt dwell in the land for ever.

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

28 For the LORD loveth righteousness, And forsaketh not his servants; They are preserved for ever; But the posterity of the wicked shall be rooted out.

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 shall inherit the land, And shall 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 what is right.

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

31 The law of his God is in his heart; His footsteps shall not slip.

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 watch the righteous, and seek 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 Trust in the LORD, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to the possession of the land, Whilst thou shalt see the destruction of the wicked!

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 man in great power, And spreading himself like a green cedar;

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

36 But he passed away, and, lo! he was no more; Yea, I sought him, but he was not found.

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

37 Mark the righteous man, and behold the upright, That posterity is to the man of peace!

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

38 But transgressors will all be destroyed; The posterity of the wicked shall be rooted out.

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

39 The salvation of the just is from the LORD. He is their strength in the 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 will help and deliver them; He will deliver them from their enemies, and save them, Because they trust 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.