Psalms 37

1 A psalm of David. Do not be irritated because of evildoers; do not be envious of those who act unrighteously.

[By David.] Do not fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

2 For they will soon dry up as the grass and wither as the green plants.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in Yahweh and do what is good; settle in the land and graze in faithfulness.

Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Then delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Also delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Give your ways to Yahweh; trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.

Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will act.

6 He will display your justice like the daylight and your innocence like the day at noon.

And he will make your righteousness go forth as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

7 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.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.

8 Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not worry. This only makes trouble.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.

9 Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh will inherit the land.

For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10 In a little while the evil man will disappear; you will look at his place, but he will be gone.

For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn't there.

11 But the meek will inherit the land and will delight in great prosperity.

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

12 The wicked man plots against the righteous and he grinds his teeth in rage against him.

The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

13 The Lord laughs at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

The LORD will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

14 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.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright in the way.

15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked people.

Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked people will be broken, but Yahweh supports the righteous people.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 Yahweh watches over the blameless day by day, and their heritage will be forever.

The LORD knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

19 They will not be ashamed when times are bad. When famine comes, they will have enough to eat.

They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 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.

But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the LORD shall be like the burning of an oven. They will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked person borrows but does not repay, but the righteous person is generous and gives.

The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous give generously.

22 Those who are blessed by God will inherit the land; those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 It is by Yahweh that a man's steps are established, the man whose way is commendable in God's sight.

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, and he delights in his way.

24 Though he stumbles, he will not fall down, for Yahweh is holding him with his hand.

Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the LORD holds him up with his hand.

25 I was young and now am old; I have never seen the righteous person abandoned or his children begging for bread.

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

26 All the day long he is gracious and lends, and his children become a blessing.

All day long he deals graciously and lends, and his offspring are a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do what is right; then you will be safe forever.

Turn away from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

28 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.

For the LORD loves justice, and doesn't forsake his faithful ones. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 The righteous will inherit the land and live there forever.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous person speaks wisdom and increases justice.

The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet will not slip.

The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him.

The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him.

33 Yahweh will not abandon him into the evil person's hand or condemn him when he is judged.

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

34 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.

Wait for the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

35 I have seen the wicked and terrifying person spread out like a green tree in its native soil.

I have seen the wicked wielding great power, and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.

36 But when I passed by again, he was not there. I looked for him, but he could not be found.

And I passed by, and look, he was not. And I looked for him, but he could not be found.

37 Observe the man of integrity, and mark the upright; there is a good future for a man of peace.

Observe the blameless, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

38 Sinners will be totally destroyed; the future for the wicked man is cut off.

As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 Salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh; he protects them in the times of trouble.

The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from evil men and saves them because they have taken refuge in him.

And the LORD helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.