Psalm 37

Instruction in Wisdom

Davidic.

1 Do a not be agitated by evildoers;

do not envy those who do wrong. b

2 For they wither quickly like grass

and wilt like tender green plants. c

3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good; d

dwell in the land and live securely. e f

4 Take delight in the Lord,

and He will give you your heart’s desires. g

5 Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in Him, and He will act, h

6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,

your justice like the noonday. i

7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him; j

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

by the man who carries out evil plans. k

8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;

do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. l

9 For evildoers will be destroyed,

but those who put their hope in the Lord

will inherit the land. m n

10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;

though you look for him, he will not be there. o

11 But the humble will inherit the land p q

and will enjoy abundant prosperity. r

12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous

and gnashes his teeth at him. s

13 The Lord laughs at him t

because He sees that his day is coming. u

14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the v bow

to bring down the afflicted and needy

and to slaughter those whose way is upright. w

15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken. x

16 The little that the righteous man has is better

than the abundance of many wicked people. y

17 For the arms z of the wicked will be broken, a

but the Lord supports the righteous. b

18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,

and their inheritance will last forever. c

19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;

they will be satisfied in days of hunger. d

20 But the wicked will perish;

the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,

will fade away—

they will fade away like smoke. e

21 The wicked man borrows and does not repay,

but the righteous one is gracious and giving. f

22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land, g

but those cursed by Him will be destroyed. h

23 A man’s steps are established by the Lord,

and He takes pleasure in his way. i

24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,

because the Lord holds his hand. j k

25 I have been young and now I am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned

or his children begging for bread. l

26 He is always generous, always lending,

and his children are a blessing. m

27 Turn away from evil and do what is good,

and dwell there n forever. o

28 For the Lord loves justice

and will not abandon His faithful ones. p

They are kept safe forever,

but the children of the wicked will be destroyed. q

29 The righteous will inherit the land r

and dwell in it permanently. s

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;

his tongue speaks what is just. t

31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;

his steps do not falter. u

32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous

and seeks to kill him; v

33 the Lord will not leave him

in the power of the wicked one

or allow him to be condemned when he is judged. w

34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way,

and He will exalt you to inherit the land.

You will watch when the wicked are destroyed. x

35 I have seen a wicked, violent man

well-rooted y like a flourishing native tree. z

36 Then I passed by and a noticed he was gone;

I searched for him, but he could not be found. b

37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright,

for the man of peace will have a future. c d

38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;

the future e of the wicked will be destroyed. f

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,

their refuge in a time of distress. g

40 The Lord helps and delivers them;

He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them

because they take refuge in Him. h