Psalms 37
1 By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
A psalm of David. Do not be irritated because of evildoers; do not be envious of those who act unrighteously.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
For they will soon dry up as the grass and wither as the green plants.
3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
Trust in Yahweh and do what is good; settle in the land and graze in faithfulness.
4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Then delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
Give your ways to Yahweh; trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
6 he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun.
He will display your justice like the daylight and your innocence like the day at noon.
7 Rest in Yahweh, 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.
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 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not worry. This only makes trouble.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh will inherit the land.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
In a little while the evil man will disappear; you will look at his place, but he will be gone.
11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
But the meek will inherit the land and will delight in great prosperity.
12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
The wicked man plots against the righteous and he grinds his teeth in rage against him.
13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.
The Lord laughs at him, for he sees 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 their swords and have bent their bows to cast down the oppressed and needy, to kill those who are upright.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.
Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.
Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked people.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous.
For the arms of the wicked people will be broken, but Yahweh supports the righteous people.
18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
Yahweh watches over the blameless day by day, and their heritage will be forever.
19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
They will not be ashamed when times are bad. When famine comes, they will have enough to eat.
20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.
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 borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.
The wicked person borrows but does not repay, but the righteous person is generous and gives.
22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
Those who are blessed by God will inherit the land; those who are cursed by him will be cut off.
23 A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.
It is by Yahweh that a man's steps are established, the man whose way is commendable in God's sight.
24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.
Though he stumbles, he will not fall down, for Yahweh is holding 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 was young and now am old; I have never seen the righteous person abandoned or his children begging for bread.
26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.
All the day long he is gracious and lends, and his children become a blessing.
27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
Turn away from evil and do what is right; then you will be safe forever.
28 For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
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 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.
The righteous will inherit the land and live there forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.
The mouth of the righteous person speaks wisdom and increases justice.
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; his feet will not slip.
32 The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.
The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him.
33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Yahweh will not abandon him into the evil person's hand or condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
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 the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
I have seen the wicked and terrifying person spread out like a green tree in its native soil.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
But when I passed by again, he was not there. I looked for 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.
Observe the man of integrity, and mark the upright; there is a good future for a man of peace.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
Sinners will be totally destroyed; the future for the wicked man is cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
Salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh; he protects them in the times of trouble.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.
Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from evil men and saves them because they have taken refuge in him.
