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. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither 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 follow after faithfulness.

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

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine 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 shall bring it to pass.

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

6 Add he shall make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

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

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Don’t 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. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.

9 For evil-doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon 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 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.

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 meek shall inherit the land; and shall 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 just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

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

13 The Lord shall 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 be 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 on the path.

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 the perfect: 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 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 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 payeth not again: but the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the land; and they that be 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 A man’s goings are established of the LORD; and he delighteth 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 upholdeth him with 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 [their] 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. His offspring is blessed.

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

Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely 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 doesn’t forsake his holy 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 talketh of wisdom, and his tongue speaketh judgment.

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 shall 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 watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.

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

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

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 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 green tree in its native soil.

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

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

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

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

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

38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together: the latter end 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 strong hold 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 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 them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.