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 for David himself. Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity.

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 shortly wither away as grass, and as the green herbs shall quickly fall.

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, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its riches.

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 in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests 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 to the Lord, and 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.

And he will bring forth thy justice 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.

Be subject to the Lord and pray to him Envy not the man who prospereth in his way; the man who doth unjust things.

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 leave rage; have no emulation 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 the evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord shall inherit 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 shall not be: and thou shalt seek his place, and shalt not find it.

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

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

The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him with his teeth.

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

But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foreseeth that his day shall come.

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: they have bent their bow. To cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart.

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

Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow 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 a little to the just, than the great riches of the 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 in pieces; but the Lord strengtheneth the just.

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 knoweth the days of undefiled; 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 confounded in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be filled:

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.

Because the wicked shall perish. And the enemies of the Lord, presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to nothing and vanish like smoke.

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 sinner shall borrow, and not pay again; but the just sheweth mercy and shall give.

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 such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse him shall perish.

23 Yahweh protects those who do what is pleasing to him, and he will enable them to walk confidently, wherever they go;

With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way.

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

When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth his hand under him.

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 just 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.

He sheweth mercy, and lendeth all the day long; and his seed shall be in 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.

Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever.

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 loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: they shall be preserved for ever. The unjust shall be punished, and the seed of the wicked shall perish.

29 Righteous/Godly people will own the land [that Yahweh promised to give to them], and they will live there forever.

But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for evermore.

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

The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak 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, and his steps shall not be supplanted.

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

The wicked watcheth the just man, and seeketh to put him to death,

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].

But the Lord will not leave in his hands; nor condemn him when he shall be 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.

Expect the Lord and keep his way: and he will exalt thee to inherit the land: when the sinners shall perish thou shalt see.

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 highly exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Libanus.

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

And I passed by, and lo, he was not: and I sought him and his place 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.

Keep innocence, and behold justice: for there are remnants for the peaceable man.

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 unjust shall be destroyed together: the remnants of the wicked shall perish.

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

But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector 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 the Lord will help them and deliver them: and he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them, because they have hoped in him.