Psalm 37

Psalm 37

A psalm of David.

1 Don’t worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.3 Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.5 Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.7 Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.10 Soon the wicked will disappear.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.11 The lowly will possess the land
and will live in peace and prosperity.12 The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.13 But the Lord just laughs,
for he sees their day of judgment coming.14 The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.15 But their swords will stab their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.16 It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich.17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the LORD takes care of the godly.18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.20 But the wicked will die.
The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.22 Those the LORD blesses will possess the land,
but those he curses will die.23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the LORD holds them by the hand.25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.27 Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.28 For the LORD loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.29 The godly will possess the land
and will live there forever.30 The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.31 They have made God’s law their own,
so they will never slip from his path.32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,
looking for an excuse to kill them.33 But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.34 Put your hope in the LORD.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!37 Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
they have no future.39 The LORD rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.40 The LORD helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in him.

PSALMS 37

Trust the [Lord]

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  t 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, 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 his people
and saves them from the wicked
because they run to him.