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.

Psalm 37

Of David.

1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;

13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.

15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;

17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The days of the blameless are known to the Lord,
and their inheritance will endure forever.

19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:
The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;

22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be cut off.

23 If the Lord delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.

26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be blessed.

27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.

28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29 the righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.

31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
seeking their very lives;

33 but the Lord will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34 Wait for the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.

38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.