Psalms 37

1 By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

[A Psalm] of David. Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

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

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

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

Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

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

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he will give thee the desires of thy heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

Commit thy way to the LORD; trust also in him; and he will bring [it] to pass.

6 he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

And he will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

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

For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

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

For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yes, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be].

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

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

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

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

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

The LORD will laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

14 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 on the path.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, [and] to slay such as are of upright deportment.

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

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

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

A little that a righteous man hath [is] better than the riches of many wicked.

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

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

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

The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

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

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of the LORD shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD [shall be] as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.

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

For [such as are] blessed by him shall inherit the earth; and [they that are] cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 A man’s steps are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.

The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

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

Though he should fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.

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

I have been young, and [now] am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

[He is] ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed [is] blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

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

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

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

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

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

The law of his God [is] in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

32 The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor 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 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.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

36 But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Yet he passed away, and lo, he [was] not: yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

Mark the perfect [man], and behold the upright: for the end of [that] man [is] peace.

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

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.

And the LORD will help them, and deliver them: he will deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.