Psalms 37

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

“Of David.” Do not fret thyself because of the 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 like the grass they shall soon be mowed down, and like the green herb shall they wither.

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

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed [thyself] with truthfulness.

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

And delight thyself in the Lord, and he will give thee the wishes of thy heart.

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

Commit thy way unto the Lord, and trust in him: and he will accomplish it.

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

And he will bring forth as the light thy righteousness, and the justice of thy [cause] as the noonday.

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 silent before the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who practices wicked devices.

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, these—shall truly 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.

For yet but for a little while, and the wicked shall be no more: yea, thou wilt look carefully at his place, and he shall not be there.

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

But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves because of the abundance of peace.

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

The wicked purposeth evil against the just, and gnasheth against 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 cause the poor and needy to fall, and to slaughter such as are of an upright course [of life].

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

[But] 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.

Better is the little that the righteous hath, than the great 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 upholder of the righteous is the Lord.

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

The Lord regardeth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall endure 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 made ashamed in the time of unhappiness; and in the days of famine shall they 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 beauty of the meadow: they pass away; in smoke they pass away.

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

The wicked borroweth, and repayeth not; but the righteous is beneficent, 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 those blessed of him shall inherit the land; and those cursed of him shall be cut off.

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

By the Lord are the steps of the righteous man established; and he findeth pleasure in his course [of life].

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

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth 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 I am also grown old: yet have I never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed seeking for bread.

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

He is all the time beneficent, and lendeth: and his seed will be for a blessing.

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 holy ones. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

For the Lord loveth justice, and never forsaketh his pious servants: they are for ever preserved; but the seed of the wicked will be cut off.

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

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

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

The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh what is just.

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 slip.

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

The wicked looketh out for 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, and will not 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, shalt thou look on.

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

I have seen the wicked terrible in power, and striking root 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.

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was no more: and 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.

Observe the perfect man, and behold the upright; for there is a [happy] future for the man of peace.

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

But the transgressors are destroyed together: the future of the wicked is cut off.

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

And the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord: he is their strong-hold in the time of distress.

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 helpeth them, and delivereth them; he will deliver them from the wicked, and save them; because they have put their trust in him.