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. Be not kindled to wrath at the wicked, nor envious of those who work 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, like grass, they will speedily wither, and fade like the green of young grass.

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; remain in the land, and deal faithfully:

4 Be delighted with all that Yahweh [does for you]; if you do that, he will give you the things that you desire most.

then the Lord will be your delight, he will grant you your heart’s petitions.

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 act,

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.

making clear as the light your right, and your just cause clear as the noon-day.

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.

In silence and patience wait on the Lord. Be not kindled to anger at those who prosper. At those who execute evil devices.

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].

Desist from anger, abandon wrath: be not kindled to anger it leads but to 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 evildoers will be cut off, but the land will be theirs, who wait on the Lord.

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

Yet but a little, and the wicked vanish: look at their place: they are there no more.

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 humble will have the land, and the rapture of peace in abundance.

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

The wicked plots against the righteous, snarls like a wild animal;

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

the Lord laughs, for he sees 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 the sword, and bent the bow, to fell the poor, to slay those who walk uprightly;

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

but their sword will pierce their own heart, and their bows will 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 righteous person’s little than the wealth 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 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 watches over the days of the blameless, their heritage will continue forever.

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

They will not be shamed in the evil time, 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.

Because the wicked will perish: but the foes of the Lord, like a brand in the oven, will vanish, like smoke they will vanish.

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 must borrow and cannot pay back, but the righteous is lavish and gives.

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 blest by the Lord inherit the land, while those whom he curses will 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 Lord supports the steps of those with whom he is pleased.

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

Though they fall, they will not be cast headlong, for the Lord holds their hands.

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.

Never, from youth to age, have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread.

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

They are ever lavishly lending, and their children are fountains of 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 and you will live in the land 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, he does not forsake his friends. The unrighteous will be destroyed forever, and the seed 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.

But the land will belong to the righteous, they will live upon it forever,

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

The mouth of the righteous murmurs wisdom, and words of justice are on their tongues.

31 They continually think about God’s laws; they do not stray from [God’s] path.

The law of their God is in their heart, their steps are never unsteady.

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

The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to put them 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 leaves them not in their hand: at their trial they will not be held guilty.

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 on the Lord, and observe his way: he will lift you to honor the land will be yours, you will feast your eyes on the doom 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 the wicked exultant, lifting themselves like a cedar of Lebanon.

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

But the moment I passed, they vanished! I sought for them, but they 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.

Preserve your honor and practise uprightness, for such a person fares well in the end.

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 perish together. Cut off are the wicked forever.

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

The righteous are saved by the Lord, who in time of distress is their refuge:

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 rescue them, from the wicked he rescues and saves them, because they take refuge in him.