Psalm 36

Human Sin and God’s Goodness

1 [ For the music leader by David, the Lord ’s servant. ] t1 Sinners don’t respect God; sin is all they think about.

2 They like themselves too much to hate their own sins
or even to see them.

3 They tell deceitful lies, and they don’t have the sense
to live right.

4 Those people stay awake, thinking up mischief,
and they follow the wrong road,
refusing to turn from sin.

5 Your love is faithful, Lord, and even the clouds in the sky
can depend on you.

6 Your decisions are always fair. They are firm like mountains,
deep like the sea,
and all people and animals
are under your care.

7 Your love is a treasure, and everyone finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.

8 You give your guests a feast in your house,
and you serve a tasty drink
that flows like a river.

9 The life-giving fountain belongs to you,
and your light gives light
to each of us.

10 Our Lord, keep showing love to everyone who knows you,
and use your power to save all
whose thoughts please you.

11 Don’t let those proud and merciless people
kick me around
or chase me away.

12 Look at those wicked people! They are knocked down,
never to get up again.

Psalm 37

Trust the Lord

1 [ By David. ] 1 Don’t be annoyed by anyone
who does wrong,
and don’t envy them.

2 They will soon disappear like grass without rain.

3 Trust the Lord and live right! The land will be yours,
and you will be safe.

4 Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you
your heart’s desire.

5 Let the Lord lead you and trust him to help.

6 Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun
that you were right.

7 Be patient and trust the Lord. Don’t let it bother you
when all goes well for those
who do sinful things.

8 Don’t be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin.

9 All sinners will disappear, but if you trust the Lord, the land will be yours.

10 Sinners will soon disappear, never to be found,

11 t11 but the poor will take the land and enjoy a big harvest.

12 Merciless people make plots against good people
and snarl like animals,

13 but the Lord laughs and knows their time is coming soon.

14 The wicked kill with swords and shoot arrows
to murder
the poor and the needy
and all who do right.

15 But they will be killed by their own swords,
and their arrows
will be broken.

16 It is better to live right and be poor
than to be sinful and rich.

17 The wicked will lose all of their power,
but the Lord gives strength to everyone who is good.

18 Those who obey the Lord are daily in his care,
and what he has given them
will be theirs forever.

19 They won’t be in trouble when times are bad,
and they will have plenty
when food is scarce.

20 Wicked people are enemies of the Lord and will vanish like smoke
from a field on fire.

21 An evil person borrows and never pays back;
a good person is generous
and never stops giving.

22 Everyone the Lord blesses will receive the land;
everyone the Lord curses will be destroyed.

23 If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain
each step you take is sure.

24 The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble,
you still won’t fall.

25 As long as I can remember, good people have never
been left helpless,
and their children have never
gone begging for food.

26 They gladly give and lend, and their children
turn out good.

27 If you stop sinning and start doing right,
you will keep living
and be secure forever.

28 The Lord loves justice, and he won’t ever desert
his faithful people.
He always protects them,
but destroys the children
of the wicked.

29 God’s people will own the land and live here forever.

30 Words of wisdom come when good people speak
for justice.

31 They remember God’s teachings, and they never take
a wrong step.

32 The wicked try to trap and kill good people,

33 but the Lord is on their side, and he will defend them
when they are on trial.

34 Trust the Lord and follow him. He will give you the land,
and you will see
the wicked destroyed.

35 I have seen brutal people abuse others and grow strong
like trees in rich soil. t

36 Suddenly they disappeared! I looked, but they were gone
and no longer there.

37 Think of the bright future waiting
for all the families
of honest and innocent
and peace-loving people.

38 But not a trace will be left of the wicked
or their families.

39 The Lord protects his people, and they can come to him
in times of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them and saves them from the wicked
because they run to him.

Psalm 38

A Prayer in Times of Trouble

1 [ A psalm by David to be used when an offering is made. ] 1 When you are angry, Lord, please don’t punish me
or even correct me.

2 You shot me with your arrows, and you struck me
with your hand.

3 My body hurts all over because of your anger.
Even my bones are in pain,
and my sins

4 are so heavy that I am crushed.

5 Because of my foolishness, I am covered with sores
that stink and spread.

6 My body is twisted and bent, and I groan all day long.

7 Fever has my back in flames, and I hurt all over.

8 I am worn out and weak, moaning and in distress.

9 You, Lord, know every one of my deepest desires,
and my noisy groans
are no secret to you.

10 My heart is beating fast. I feel weak all over,
and my eyes are red.

11 Because of my sickness, no friends or neighbors
will come near me.

12 All who want me dead set traps to catch me,
and those who want
to harm and destroy me
plan and plot all day.

13 I am not able to hear or speak a word;

14 I am completely deaf and can’t make a sound.

15 I trust you, Lord God, and you will do something.

16 I said, “Don’t let them laugh or brag because I slip.”

17 I am about to collapse from constant pain.

18 I told you my sins, and I am sorry for them.

19 Many deadly and powerful enemies hate me,

20 and they repay evil for good because I try to do right.

21 You are the Lord God! Stay nearby
and don’t desert me.

22 You are the one who saves me. Please hurry and help.