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By David.

37 Don’t fret because of evildoers,
    neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
    and wither like the green herb.
Trust in Yahweh, and do good.
    Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
Also delight yourself in Yahweh,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to Yahweh.
    Trust also in him, and he will do this:
he will make your righteousness shine out like light,
    and your justice as the noon day sun.
Rest in Yahweh, 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.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.
    Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for Yahweh shall 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.
11 But the humble shall inherit the land,
    and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just,
    and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord will laugh at him,
    for he sees 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.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart.
    Their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is a little that the righteous has,
    than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but Yahweh upholds the righteous.
18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect.
    Their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil.
    In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish.
    The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields.
    They will vanish—
    vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back,
    but the righteous give generously.
22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land.
    Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 A man’s steps are established by Yahweh.
    He delights in his way.
24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall,
    for Yahweh holds him up with 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.
26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends.
    His offspring is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good.
    Live securely forever.
28 For Yahweh loves justice,
    and doesn’t forsake his saints.
    They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
    and live in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom.
    His tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart.
    None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watch the righteous,
    and seek to kill him.
33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand,
    nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait for Yahweh, 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 seen the wicked in great power,
    spreading himself 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.
37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together.
    The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh.
    He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them.
    He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they have taken refuge in him.

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