Psalm 3722

By David.

37:1 Do not fret1 when wicked men seem to succeed!2

Do not envy evildoers!

37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass,

and wither away like plants.3

37:3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right!

Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!4

37:4 Then you will take delight in the Lord,5

and he will answer your prayers.6

37:5 Commit your future to the Lord!7

Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.8

37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,

and publicly defend your just cause.9

37:7 Wait 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!

37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated!13

Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!

37:9 Wicked men14 will be wiped out,15

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

37:10 Evil men will soon disappear;17

you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.18

37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land

and enjoy great prosperity.19

37:12 Evil men plot against the godly20

and viciously attack them.21

37:13 The Lord laughs in disgust22 at them,

for he knows that their day is coming.23

37:14 Evil men draw their swords

and prepare their bows,

to bring down24 the oppressed and needy,

and to slaughter those who are godly.25

37:15 Their swords will pierce26 their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than

the wealth of many evil men,27

37:17 for evil men will lose their power,28

but the Lord sustains29 the godly.

37:18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day30

and they possess a permanent inheritance.31

37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come;32

when famine comes they will have enough to eat.33

37:20 But34 evil men will die;

the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated35—

they will go up in smoke.36

37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,

but the godly show compassion and are generous.37

37:22 Surely38 those favored by the Lord39 will possess the land,

but those rejected40 by him will be wiped out.41

37:23 The Lord grants success to the one

whose behavior he finds commendable.42

37:24 Even if43 he trips, he will not fall headlong,44

for the Lord holds45 his hand.

37:25 I was once young, now I am old.

I have never seen a godly man abandoned,

or his children46 forced to search for food.47

37:26 All day long he shows compassion and lends to others,48

and his children49 are blessed.

37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right!50

Then you will enjoy lasting security.51

37:28 For the Lord promotes52 justice,

and never abandons53 his faithful followers.

They are permanently secure,54

but the children55 of evil men are wiped out.56

37:29 The godly will possess the land

and will dwell in it permanently.

37:30 The godly speak wise words

and promote justice.57

37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking;58

their59 feet do not slip.

37:32 Evil men set an ambush for the godly

and try to kill them.60

37:33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly,

or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.61

37:34 Rely62 on the Lord! Obey his commands!63

Then he will permit you64 to possess the land;

you will see the demise of evil men.65

37:35 I have seen ruthless evil men66

growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.67

37:36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared!68

I looked for them, but they could not be found.

37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly!69

For the one who promotes peace has a future.70

37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed;71

evil men have no future.72

37:39 But the Lord delivers the godly;73

he protects them in times of trouble.74

37:40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;

he rescues them from evil men and delivers them,75

for they seek his protection.