Psalmorum 37
1 Psalmus ipsi David. [Noli æmulari in malignantibus, neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem:
Of David. Be not kindled to wrath at the wicked, nor envious of those who work wrong;
2 quoniam tamquam fœnum velociter arescent, et quemadmodum olera herbarum cito decident.
for, like grass, they will speedily wither, and fade like the green of young grass.
3 Spera in Domino, et fac bonitatem; et inhabita terram, et pasceris in divitiis ejus.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; remain in the land, and deal faithfully:
4 Delectare in Domino, et dabit tibi petitiones cordis tui.
then the Lord will be your delight, he will grant you your heart’s petitions.
5 Revela Domino viam tuam, et spera in eo, et ipse faciet.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act,
6 Et educet quasi lumen justitiam tuam, et judicium tuum tamquam meridiem.
making clear as the light your right, and your just cause clear as the noon-day.
7 Subditus esto Domino, et ora eum. Noli æmulari in eo qui prosperatur in via sua; in homine faciente injustitias.
In silence and patience wait on the Lord. Be not kindled to anger at those who prosper. At those who execute evil devices.
8 Desine ab ira, et derelinque furorem; noli æmulari ut maligneris.
Desist from anger, abandon wrath: be not kindled to anger it leads but to evil:
9 Quoniam qui malignantur exterminabuntur; sustinentes autem Dominum, ipsi hæreditabunt terram.
for evildoers will be cut off, but the land will be theirs, who wait on the Lord.
10 Et adhuc pusillum, et non erit peccator; et quæres locum ejus, et non invenies.
Yet but a little, and the wicked vanish: look at their place: they are there no more.
11 Mansueti autem hæreditabunt terram, et delectabuntur in multitudine pacis.
But the humble will have the land, and the rapture of peace in abundance.
12 Observabit peccator justum, et stridebit super eum dentibus suis.
The wicked plots against the righteous, snarls like a wild animal;
13 Dominus autem irridebit eum, quoniam prospicit quod veniet dies ejus.
the Lord laughs, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 Gladium evaginaverunt peccatores; intenderunt arcum suum: ut dejiciant pauperem et inopem, ut trucident rectos corde.
The wicked have drawn the sword, and bent the bow, to fell the poor, to slay those who walk uprightly;
15 Gladius eorum intret in corda ipsorum, et arcus eorum confringatur.
but their sword will pierce their own heart, and their bows will be broken in pieces.
16 Melius est modicum justo, super divitias peccatorum multas:
Better is the righteous person’s little than the wealth of many wicked.
17 quoniam brachia peccatorum conterentur: confirmat autem justos Dominus.
For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 Novit Dominus dies immaculatorum, et hæreditas eorum in æternum erit.
The Lord watches over the days of the blameless, their heritage will continue forever.
19 Non confundentur in tempore malo, et in diebus famis saturabuntur:
They will not be shamed in the evil time, in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
20 quia peccatores peribunt. Inimici vero Domini mox ut honorificati fuerint et exaltati, deficientes quemadmodum fumus deficient.
Because the wicked will perish: but the foes of the Lord, like a brand in the oven, will vanish, like smoke they will vanish.
21 Mutuabitur peccator, et non solvet; justus autem miseretur et tribuet:
The wicked must borrow and cannot pay back, but the righteous is lavish and gives.
22 quia benedicentes ei hæreditabunt terram; maledicentes autem ei disperibunt.
For those blest by the Lord inherit the land, while those whom he curses will be cut off.
23 Apud Dominum gressus hominis dirigentur, et viam ejus volet.
The Lord supports the steps of those with whom he is pleased.
24 Cum ceciderit, non collidetur, quia Dominus supponit manum suam.
Though they fall, they will not be cast headlong, for the Lord holds their hands.
25 Junior fui, etenim senui; et non vidi justum derelictum, nec semen ejus quærens panem.
Never, from youth to age, have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread.
26 Tota die miseretur et commodat; et semen illius in benedictione erit.
They are ever lavishly lending, and their children are fountains of blessing.
27 Declina a malo, et fac bonum, et inhabita in sæculum sæculi:
Turn away from evil and do good and you will live in the land forever.
28 quia Dominus amat judicium, et non derelinquet sanctos suos: in æternum conservabuntur. Injusti punientur, et semen impiorum peribit.
For the Lord loves justice, he does not forsake his friends. The unrighteous will be destroyed forever, and the seed of the wicked will be cut off.
29 Justi autem hæreditabunt terram, et inhabitabunt in sæculum sæculi super eam.
But the land will belong to the righteous, they will live upon it forever,
30 Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium.
The mouth of the righteous murmurs wisdom, and words of justice are on their tongues.
31 Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus.
The law of their God is in their heart, their steps are never unsteady.
32 Considerat peccator justum, et quærit mortificare eum.
The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to put them to death.
33 Dominus autem non derelinquet eum in manibus ejus, nec damnabit eum cum judicabitur illi.
But the Lord leaves them not in their hand: at their trial they will not be held guilty.
34 Exspecta Dominum, et custodi viam ejus, et exaltabit te ut hæreditate capias terram: cum perierint peccatores, videbis.
Wait on the Lord, and observe his way: he will lift you to honour the land will be yours, you will feast your eyes on the doom of the wicked.
35 Vidi impium superexaltatum, et elevatum sicut cedros Libani:
I have seen the wicked exultant, lifting themselves like a cedar of Lebanon.
36 et transivi, et ecce non erat; et quæsivi eum, et non est inventus locus ejus.
But the moment I passed, they vanished! I sought for them, but they could not be found.
37 Custodi innocentiam, et vide æquitatem, quoniam sunt reliquiæ homini pacifico.
Preserve your honour and practise uprightness, for such a person fares well in the end.
38 Injusti autem disperibunt simul; reliquiæ impiorum interibunt.
But transgressors will perish together. Cut off are the wicked forever.
39 Salus autem justorum a Domino; et protector eorum in tempore tribulationis.
The righteous are saved by the Lord, who in time of distress is their refuge:
40 Et adjuvabit eos Dominus, et liberabit eos; et eruet eos a peccatoribus, et salvabit eos, quia speraverunt in eo.]
the Lord helps and rescue them, from the wicked he rescues and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
