Psalms 37

1 A psalm of David. Don't be upset over wicked people, or be jealous of those who do wrong.

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

2 For like grass, they will quickly dry up; like plants, they will soon wither away.

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

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good. Live in the land and feed on faithfulness.

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

4 Find your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you what you want the most.

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

5 Entrust all that you do to the Lord. Place your confidence in him and he will help you.

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

6 He will make your vindication shine like a light, the rightness of your cause like the noonday sun.

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

7 Be still in God's presence; wait patiently for him. Don't be upset over people who prosper when they carry out their evil schemes.

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.

8 Give up your anger! Let go your rage! Don't get mad—it only results in evil!

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

9 For the wicked will be destroyed, and those who trust in the Lord will take possession of the land.

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

10 In a little while the wicked will be no more—though you look for them you won't find them.

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

11 The humble will own the land; they will live there happily, in peace and prosperity.

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

12 The wicked plot evil against those who do good, gnashing their teeth at them.

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

13 But the Lord laughs at them, for he sees their coming day of judgment.

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

14 The wicked draw their swords, and bend their bows to destroy the poor and needy, to kill those who live right.

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.

15 But the swords of the wicked will slice through their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

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

16 It's better to do right and only have a little, than to be wicked and rich.

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

17 For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports those who do right.

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

18 The Lord knows what is happening to the innocent and grants them an eternal inheritance.

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

19 They will not be humiliated in bad times; even in days of famine they will have plenty to eat.

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

20 But the wicked will die. The enemies of the Lord are like the flowers of the field—they will vanish like smoke.

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

21 The wicked borrow, but don't repay; while those who do right give generously.

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

22 Those who are blessed by God will own the land, but those he curses will die.

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

23 The Lord shows the right path to those who follow him, and is happy with the way they live.

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

24 Though they may trip up, they will not fall to the ground, for the Lord holds their hand.

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

25 Once I was young, and now I've grown old, yet I've never seen those who do right abandoned, nor their children having to beg for bread.

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

26 They are always kind, and generous with their loans; their children are a blessing.

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

27 Reject evil, do what is good, and you will live forever in the land.

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

28 For the Lord loves fairness and he will never abandon those who are trustworthy. He will protect them forever. But the children of the wicked will die.

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.

29 Those who do right will own the land and will live there forever.

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

30 People who do right give good advice, explaining what is fair.

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

31 God's law lives in their minds, so they will not slip from his way.

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

32 The wicked lie in wait for those who do good, intending to kill them.

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

33 But the Lord will not let them fall into the hands of the wicked, and he will not let those who do good be condemned when they are put on trial.

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

34 Trust in the Lord, and stay on his path. He will lift you up and give you the land to own. You will see when the wicked are destroyed.

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.

35 I have watched the wicked acting brutally, spreading like a large tree in its native land.

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

36 But when I passed that way the next time, they were gone. I searched for them but couldn't find them.

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

37 Observe the innocent, look at those who do right! Those who love peace have a future!

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

38 But those who are rebellious will be altogether destroyed; the wicked have no future.

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

39 The Lord saves those who live right; he is their protection in times of trouble.

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

40 The Lord helps them and rescues them from the wicked. He saves them because they go to him for protection.

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