Psalms 37
1 Do not be bothered/upset by what wicked [people do]. Do not desire to have the things that people who do wrong/evil have,
Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
2 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.
For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
3 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].
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Be delighted with all that Yahweh [does for you]; if you do that, he will give you the things that you desire most.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit to Yahweh all the things that you plan to do; trust in him, and he will do [whatever is needed to help you].
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.
6 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.
He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.
7 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.
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 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].
Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.
9 [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].
For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 Soon the wicked will disappear. If you look for them, they will be gone.
Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 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].
But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.
12 Wicked people plan to harm righteous/godly people; they snarl at them [MET] [like wild animals].
The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,
13 But Yahweh laughs [at them] because he knows that some day [MTY] [he will judge and punish] the wicked people.
but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.
14 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.
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 But they will be killed by their own swords/daggers, and their bows will be broken.
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16 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,
Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.
17 because [Yahweh] will completely take away the strength of wicked people, but he will (sustain/take care of) people who live righteously.
For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 Every day Yahweh cares about those who have not done any evil things; the things that Yahweh gives them will last forever.
The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.
19 They will survive when calamities occur; when there are famines, they will still have plenty to eat.
In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
20 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.
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 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].
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
22 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.
Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.
23 Yahweh protects those who do what is pleasing to him, and he will enable them to walk confidently, wherever they go;
The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
24 even if they stumble, they will not fall down, because Yahweh holds them by his hand.
Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
25 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.
I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.
26 Righteous/Godly people are generous, and happily lend [money to others], and their children are a blessing to them.
They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.
27 Turn away from [doing] evil, and do what is good. If you do that, you [and your descendants] will live in your land forever.
Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
28 [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.
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 Righteous/Godly people will own the land [that Yahweh promised to give to them], and they will live there forever.
The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30 Righteous people give wise [advice to others], and they [MTY] say what is just/fair.
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31 They continually think about God’s laws; they do not stray from [God’s] path.
The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.
32 Those who are evil wait in ambush for righteous people in order to kill them [as they walk by].
Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
33 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].
the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.
34 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.
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 that wicked people who (act like tyrants/terrify people) [sometimes] prosper, like trees that grow well in fertile soil,
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
36 when I looked [later], they were gone! I searched for them, but [Yahweh had caused] them to disappear.
yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.
37 Notice the people who have not done evil things, those who act righteously: their descendants will have peace in their inner beings.
Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.
38 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).
But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 Yahweh rescues righteous people; in times of trouble he protects them [MET].
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 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].
The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.
