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Psalm 37:7–9

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37:7Wait patiently for the Lord!10

Wait confidently11 for him!

Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner,12

a man who carries out wicked schemes!

37:8Do not be angry and frustrated!13

Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!

37:9Wicked men14 will be wiped out,15

but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.16

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Footnotes

  1. 10 Heb “Be quiet before the Lord!”
  2. 11 The Hebrew text has וְהִתְחוֹלֵל (véhitkholel, Hitpolel of חִיל, khil, “writhe with fear, suffer”) but this idea fits awkwardly here. The text should be changed to וְתוֹחֵל (vétokhel; Hiphil of יָחַל, yakhal, “wait”). It appears that the Hebrew text is the product of dittography: (1) the initial וה (vav-he) is accidentally repeated from the preceding word (יְהוָה, yéhvah) and (2) the final lamed (ל) is accidentally repeated (note the preceding lamed and the initial lamed on the following form, לו).
  3. 12 Heb “over one who causes his way to be successful.”
  4. 13 Heb “Refrain from anger! Abandon rage!”
  5. 14 Heb “for evil men.” The conjunction כִּי (ki, “for”) relates to the exhortations in v. 8; there is no reason to be frustrated, for the evildoers will be punished in due time.
  6. 15 Or “cut off, removed.”
  7. 16 Heb “and those who wait on the Lord, they will possess the land.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices!

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!

Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

For the evildoers shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Be still before the Lord

and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For those who are evil will be destroyed,

but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him;

do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,

by the person who carries out evil plans.

Refrain from anger and give up your rage;

do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.

For evildoers will be destroyed,

but those who put their hope in the Lord

will inherit the land.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

Stop being angry!

Turn from your rage!

Do not lose your temper—

it only leads to harm.

For the wicked will be destroyed,

but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Be quiet before Yahweh and wait for him.

Do not fret about one who succeeds in his way,

about a man making plots.

Refrain from anger and forsake wrath.

Do not fret; it only brings evil.

For evildoers will be cut off,

but those who wait for Yahweh—

they will possess the land.

KJV 1900King James Version

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:

Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,

Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:

Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off:

But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.