Psalm 37:23-40

Christian Standard Bible

²³ A person’s steps are established by the Lord,
and he takes pleasure in his way.^(A)
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord supports him with his hand.^(B)

²⁵ I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.^(C)
26 He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.^(D)

²⁷ Turn away from evil, do what is good,
and settle permanently.^(E)
28 For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon his faithful ones.^(F)
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.^(G)
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it permanently.^(H)

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.^(I)
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.^(J)

³² The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and intends to kill him;^(K)
33 the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.^(L)

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.^(M)

³⁵ I have seen a wicked, violent person
well-rooted,^[a] like a flourishing native tree.^(N)
36 Then I^[b] passed by and noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.^(O)

³⁷ Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the person of peace will have a future.^[c](P)
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.^(Q)

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.^(R)
40 The Lord helps and delivers them;
he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in him.^(S)