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A psalm of David.

37 Don’t be upset because of sinful people.
    Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.
Like grass, they will soon dry up.
    Like green plants, they will soon die.

Trust in the Lord and do good.
    Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food.
Find your delight in the Lord.
    Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.

Commit your life to the Lord.
    Here is what he will do if you trust in him.
He will make the reward for your godly life shine like the dawn.
    He will make the proof of your honest life shine like the sun at noon.

Be still and wait patiently for the Lord to act.
    Don’t be upset when other people succeed.
    Don’t be upset when they carry out their evil plans.

Turn away from anger and don’t give in to wrath.
    Don’t be upset, because that only leads to evil.
Sinful people will be destroyed.
    But those who put their hope in the Lord will receive the land.

10 In a little while, there won’t be any more sinners.
    Even if you look for them, you won’t be able to find them.
11 But those who are free of pride will be given the land.
    They will enjoy peace and success.

12 Sinful people make plans to harm those who do what is right.
    They grind their teeth at them.
13 But the Lord laughs at those who do evil.
    He knows the day is coming when he will judge them.

14 Sinners pull out their swords.
    They bend their bows.
They want to kill poor and needy people.
    They plan to murder those who lead honest lives.
15 But they will be killed by their own swords.
    Their own bows will be broken.

16 Those who do what is right may have very little.
    But it’s better than the wealth of many sinners.
17 The power of those who are evil will be broken.
    But the Lord takes good care of those who do what is right.

18 Those who are without blame spend their days in the Lord’s care.
    What he has given them will last forever.
19 When trouble comes to them, they will have what they need.
    When there is little food in the land, they will still have plenty.

20 But sinful people will die.
    The Lord’s enemies may be like flowers in the field.
    But they will be swallowed up.
    They will disappear like smoke.

21 Sinful people borrow and don’t pay back.
    But those who are godly give freely to others.
22 The Lord will give the land to those he blesses.
    But he will destroy those he curses.

23 The Lord makes secure the footsteps
    of the person who delights in him,
24 Even if that person trips, he won’t fall.
    The Lord’s hand takes good care of him.

25 I once was young, and now I’m old.
    But I’ve never seen godly people deserted.
    I’ve never seen their children begging for bread.
26 The godly are always giving and lending freely.
    Their children will be a blessing.

27 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Then you will live in the land forever.
28 The Lord loves those who are honest.
    He will not desert those who are faithful to him.

Those who do wrong will be completely destroyed.
    The children of sinners will die.
29 Those who do what is right will be given the land.
    They will live in it forever.

30 The mouths of those who do what is right speak words of wisdom.
    They say what is honest.
31 God’s law is in their hearts.
    Their feet do not slip.

32 Those who are evil hide and wait for godly people.
    They want to kill them.
33 But the Lord will not leave the godly in their power.
    He will not let them be found guilty when they are brought into court.

34 Put your hope in the Lord.
    Live as he wants you to.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
    When sinners are destroyed, you will see it.

35 I saw a mean and sinful person.
    He was doing well, like a green tree in its own land.
36 But he soon passed away and was gone.
    Even though I looked for him, I couldn’t find him.

37 Consider honest people who are without blame.
    People who seek peace will have a tomorrow.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed.
    Those who are evil won’t have a tomorrow.

39 The Lord saves those who do what is right.
    He is their place of safety when trouble comes.
40 The Lord helps them and saves them.
    He saves them from sinful people
    because they go to him for safety.

Psalm 37[a]

Of David.

Do not fret because of those who are evil
    or be envious(A) of those who do wrong;(B)
for like the grass they will soon wither,(C)
    like green plants they will soon die away.(D)

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land(E) and enjoy safe pasture.(F)
Take delight(G) in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.(H)

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him(I) and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward(J) shine like the dawn,(K)
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still(L) before the Lord
    and wait patiently(M) for him;
do not fret(N) when people succeed in their ways,(O)
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.(P)

Refrain from anger(Q) and turn from wrath;
    do not fret(R)—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,(S)
    but those who hope(T) in the Lord will inherit the land.(U)

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(V)
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(W)
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.(X)

12 The wicked plot(Y) against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth(Z) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.(AA)

14 The wicked draw the sword(AB)
    and bend the bow(AC)
to bring down the poor and needy,(AD)
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(AE)
    and their bows will be broken.(AF)

16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth(AG) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(AH)
    but the Lord upholds(AI) the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(AJ)
    and their inheritance will endure forever.(AK)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:(AL)
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(AM)

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;(AN)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses(AO) will be destroyed.(AP)

23 The Lord makes firm the steps(AQ)
    of the one who delights(AR) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(AS)
    for the Lord upholds(AT) him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(AU)
    or their children begging(AV) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(AW)
    their children will be a blessing.[b](AX)

27 Turn from evil and do good;(AY)
    then you will dwell in the land forever.(AZ)
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.(BA)

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[c];
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.(BB)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(BC)
    and dwell in it forever.(BD)

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(BE)
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(BF)
    their feet do not slip.(BG)

32 The wicked lie in wait(BH) for the righteous,(BI)
    intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned(BJ) when brought to trial.(BK)

34 Hope in the Lord(BL)
    and keep his way.(BM)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed,(BN) you will see(BO) it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing(BP) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.(BQ)

37 Consider the blameless,(BR) observe the upright;(BS)
    a future awaits those who seek peace.[d](BT)
38 But all sinners(BU) will be destroyed;(BV)
    there will be no future[e] for the wicked.(BW)

39 The salvation(BX) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(BY)
40 The Lord helps(BZ) them and delivers(CA) them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves(CB) them,
    because they take refuge(CC) in him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
  3. Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
  4. Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
  5. Psalm 37:38 Or posterity