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.” Be not thou angry on account of the wicked, Nor be envious of those who do 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 soon shall they be cut down like grass, And wither like 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].

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Abide in the land, and delight in 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.

Place thy delight in the LORD. And he will give thee thy heart's desires.

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; Trust in him, and he will give thee success!

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 cause thy justice to shine forth like the light, And thy righteousness like the noonday's brightness.

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.

Hope thou patiently on the LORD, And in him place thy trust! Be not angry on account of the prosperous, —On account of him that deviseth deceit!

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; give not way to wrath; Be not provoked, so as 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 rooted out; But they who trust in the LORD, they shall 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 shall be no more; Thou mayst look for his place, and he 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 shall inherit the land, And delight themselves in the fulness of prosperity.

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

The wicked man plotteth against the just, And gnasheth at 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.

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 draw the sword, And bend their bow, To cast down the afflicted and the needy, And to slay the upright.

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

Their swords shall enter their own hearts, And their bows shall be broken in pieces.

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 man Than the great abundance 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, But the LORD will uphold 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 careth for the life of the upright, And their inheritance shall endure 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 evil time, And in the days of famine they shall have enough.

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 shall perish; Yea, the enemies of the LORD shall be consumed, like the glory of the fields; They shall be consumed into 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 wicked borroweth, and repayeth not; But the righteous is merciful and bountiful.

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 they who are blessed by God shall inherit the land, And they who are cursed by him shall be rooted out.

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 the good man are directed by the LORD; He delighteth himself 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 the LORD holdeth him by the 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; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his offspring begging bread.

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

He is ever merciful and lendeth, And his offspring shall be blessed.

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; So thou shalt dwell in the land for 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 righteousness, And forsaketh not his servants; They are preserved for ever; But the posterity of the wicked shall be rooted out.

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

The righteous shall inherit the land, And shall 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 uttereth wisdom, And his tongue speaketh what is right.

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 footsteps shall not slip.

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].

The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor suffer him to be condemned, 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.

Trust in the LORD, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to the possession of the land, Whilst thou shalt see the destruction of the wicked!

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 man in great power, And spreading himself like a green cedar;

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

But he passed away, and, lo! he was no more; Yea, 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 righteous man, and behold the upright, That posterity is to 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 transgressors will all be destroyed; The posterity of the wicked shall be rooted out.

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

The salvation of the just is from the LORD. 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].

The LORD will help and deliver them; He will deliver them from their enemies, and save them, Because they trust in him.