Psalm 37

Psalm 37¹

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 himⁱ 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 fretⁿ 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

A little while, and the wicked will be no more;^v

though you look for them, they will not be found.

But the meek will inherit the land^w

and enjoy peace and prosperity.^x

The wicked plot^y against the righteous

and gnash their teeth^z at them;

but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he knows their day is coming.^a

The wicked draw the sword^b

and bend the bow^c

to bring down the poor and needy,^d

to slay those whose ways are upright.

But their swords will pierce their own hearts,^e

and their bows will be broken.^f

Better the little that the righteous have

than the wealth^g of many wicked;

for the power of the wicked will be broken,^h

but the Lord upholdsⁱ the righteous.

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,^j

and their inheritance will endure forever.^k

In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

But the wicked will perish:^l

Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,

they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.^m

The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;ⁿ

those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses^o will be destroyed.^p

The Lord makes firm the steps^q

of those who delight^r in him;

though they stumble, they will not fall,^s

for the Lord upholds^t them with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken^u

or their children begging^v bread.

They are always generous and lend freely;^w

their children will be a blessing.^x

Turn from evil and do good;^y

then you will dwell in the land forever.^z

For the Lord loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.^a

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;

the offspring of the wicked will perish.^b

The righteous will inherit the land^c

and dwell in it forever.^d

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,^e

and their tongues speak what is just.

The law of their God is in their hearts;^f

their feet do not slip.^g

The wicked lie in wait^h for the righteous,ⁱ

seeking their very lives;

but the Lord will not leave them in their power

or let them be condemned^j when brought to trial.^k

Hope in the Lord^l

and keep his way.^m

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are destroyed,ⁿ you will see^o it.

I have seen the wicked and ruthless

flourishing^p like a luxuriant native tree,

but they soon passed away and were no more;

though I looked for them, they could not be found.^q

Consider the blameless,^r observe the upright;^s

a future awaits those who seek peace.^t

But all sinners^u will be destroyed;^v

there will be no future for the wicked.^w

The salvation^x of the righteous comes from the Lord;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.^y

The Lord helps^z them and delivers^a them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves^b them,

because they take refuge^c in him.