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,

[A Psalm] of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, and be not envious of them that work unrighteousness;

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 shall soon be cut down like the grass, and fade as the green herb.

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].

Confide in Jehovah, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on 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.

and delight thyself in Jehovah, and he will give thee the desires of thy 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 thy way unto Jehovah, and rely upon him: he will bring [it] to pass;

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.

and he will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

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.

Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth mischievous devices to pass.

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].

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself: it [would be] only to do evil.

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 evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait on Jehovah, they shall possess the land.

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

For yet a little while, and the wicked is not; and thou considerest his place, but he is not.

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 shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of prosperity.

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

The wicked plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth his teeth against him.

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

The Lord laugheth at him; for he seeth that his 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 out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the afflicted and needy, to slay those that are upright in [the] way:

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

their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall 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,

The little that the righteous hath is better than the abundance of many 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 shall be broken, but Jehovah upholdeth 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.

Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; and their inheritance shall be for ever:

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

they shall not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they shall 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.

For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume, like smoke shall they consume 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 borroweth, and payeth not again; but the righteous is gracious and giveth:

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.

for those blessed of him shall possess the land, and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.

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 established by Jehovah, and he delighteth in his way:

24 even if they stumble, they will not fall down, because Yahweh holds them by his hand.

though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for Jehovah upholdeth 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 have been young, and now am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread:

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

all the day he is gracious and lendeth, and his seed shall be 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.

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

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 Jehovah loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: They are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall 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 shall possess the land, and dwell therein for ever.

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

The mouth of the righteous proffereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh judgment;

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 goings shall not slide.

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

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him:

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].

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

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 Jehovah, and keep his way, and he will exalt thee to possess the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt 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 the wicked in great power, and spreading like a green tree in its native soil:

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

but he passed away, and behold, he was not; and I sought him, but he was not found.

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

Mark the perfect, and behold the upright, for the end of [that] man is 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 shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah: he is their strength in the 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].

And Jehovah will help them and deliver them: he will deliver them from the wicked, and save them; for they trust in him.