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. Do not be irritated because of evildoers; do not be envious of those who act unrighteously.
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 will soon dry up as the grass and wither as the green 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 Yahweh and do what is good; settle in the land and graze 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.
Then delight yourself in Yahweh, 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].
Give your ways to Yahweh; trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
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 display your justice like the daylight and your innocence like the day at noon.
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 Yahweh and wait patiently for him. Do not be angry if someone succeeds in what he does, or when he makes evil plots.
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].
Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not worry. This only makes trouble.
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].
Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh will inherit the land.
10 Soon the wicked will disappear. If you look for them, they will be gone.
In a little while the evil man will disappear; you will look at his place, but he will be gone.
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 will delight in great prosperity.
12 Wicked people plan to harm righteous/godly people; they snarl at them [MET] [like wild animals].
The wicked man plots against the righteous and he grinds his teeth in rage 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 laughs at him, 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 out their swords and have bent their bows to cast down the oppressed and needy, to kill those who are upright.
15 But they will be killed by their own swords/daggers, and their bows will be broken.
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 that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked people.
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 people will be broken, but Yahweh supports the righteous people.
18 Every day Yahweh cares about those who have not done any evil things; the things that Yahweh gives them will last forever.
Yahweh watches over the blameless day by day, and their heritage will be forever.
19 They will survive when calamities occur; when there are famines, they will still have plenty to eat.
They will not be ashamed when times are bad. When famine comes, they will have enough to eat.
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 evil men will perish. Yahweh's enemies will be like the glory of the pastures; they will be consumed and disappear in the 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 person borrows but does not repay, but the righteous person is generous 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.
Those who are blessed by God will inherit the land; those who are cursed by him 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;
It is by Yahweh that a man's steps are established, the man whose way is commendable in God's sight.
24 even if they stumble, they will not fall down, because Yahweh holds them by his hand.
Though he stumbles, he will not fall down, for Yahweh is holding him with 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 was young and now am old; I have never seen the righteous person abandoned or his children begging for bread.
26 Righteous/Godly people are generous, and happily lend [money to others], and their children are a blessing to them.
All the day long he is gracious and lends, and his children become 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 what is right; then you will be safe 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 Yahweh loves justice and does not abandon his faithful followers. They are preserved forever, but the descendants 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 live there forever.
30 Righteous people give wise [advice to others], and they [MTY] say what is just/fair.
The mouth of the righteous person speaks wisdom and increases 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 feet will not slip.
32 Those who are evil wait in ambush for righteous people in order to kill them [as they walk by].
The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill 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].
Yahweh will not abandon him into the evil person's hand or 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 Yahweh and keep his way, and he will raise you up to possess the land. You will see when the wicked are cut off.
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 and terrifying person spread out 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 when I passed by again, he was not there. I looked for him, but 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.
Observe the man of integrity, and mark the upright; there is a good future for a 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).
Sinners will be totally destroyed; the future for the wicked man is cut off.
39 Yahweh rescues righteous people; in times of trouble he protects them [MET].
Salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh; he protects them in the times 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].
Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from evil men and saves them because they have taken refuge in him.
