Psalms 37

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

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; dwell in the land, and follow after faithfulness.

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

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

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 shall bring it to pass.

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

6 Add he shall make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, and thy 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 thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth 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 thyself, [it tendeth] only to evil-doing.

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

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

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, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he 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 land; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

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

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth 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 seeth 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, to slay such as be upright in the way:

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 Better is a little that the righteous hath than the abundance 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 upholdeth the righteous.

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

18 The LORD knoweth the days of the perfect: 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 time of evil: 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 excellency of the pastures: they shall consume; in 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 borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.

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 land; 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 A man’s goings are established of the LORD; and he delighteth 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 upholdeth 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 [their] bread.

I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

26 All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; 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; dwell for evermore.

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

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 talketh of wisdom, and his tongue speaketh 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 watcheth the righteous, and seeketh 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 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 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 tree in its native soil.

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

36 But one passed by, 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 latter end of [that] man is peace.

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

38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together: the latter 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 strong hold 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 helpeth them, and rescueth them: he rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, because they have taken refuge in him.

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