Psalms 37

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

Do not be bothered/upset by what wicked [people do]. Do not desire to have the things that people who do wrong/evil have,

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

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.

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

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].

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

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

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

Commit to Yahweh all the things that you plan to do; trust in him, and he will do [whatever is needed to help you].

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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].

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

[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].

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

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

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

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].

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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,

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

because [Yahweh] will completely take away the strength of wicked people, but he will (sustain/take care of) people who live righteously.

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

Every day Yahweh cares about those who have not done any evil things; the things that Yahweh gives them will last forever.

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

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

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 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.

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

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].

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

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.

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

Yahweh protects those who do what is pleasing to him, and he will enable them to walk confidently, wherever they go;

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

even if they stumble, they will not fall down, because Yahweh holds them by 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 [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.

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

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

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

Turn away from [doing] evil, and do what is good. If you do that, you [and your descendants] will live in your land forever.

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

[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.

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

Righteous/Godly people will own the land [that Yahweh promised to give to them], and they will live there forever.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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].

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.

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.

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

I have seen that wicked people who (act like tyrants/terrify people) [sometimes] prosper, like trees that grow well in fertile soil,

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

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

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

Notice the people who have not done evil things, those who act righteously: their descendants will have peace in their inner beings.

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

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).

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

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

40 The LORD 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 saves them; he rescues them from [being attacked/harmed by] wicked people because they go to him to be protected [MET].