12 The wicked (A)plots against the righteous
    and (B)gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord (C)laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his (D)day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and (E)bend their bows
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose (F)way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their (G)bows shall be broken.

16 (H)Better is the little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For (I)the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but the Lord (J)upholds the righteous.

18 The Lord (K)knows the days of the blameless,
    and their (L)heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
    in (M)the days of famine they have abundance.

20 But the wicked will perish;
    the enemies of the Lord are like (N)the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish—like (O)smoke they vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
    but the righteous (P)is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord[a] shall (Q)inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him (R)shall be cut off.

23 The (S)steps of a man are (T)established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
24 (U)though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord (V)upholds his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children (W)begging for bread.
26 He is ever (X)lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

27 (Y)Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you (Z)dwell forever.
28 For the Lord (AA)loves justice;
    he will not forsake his (AB)saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be (AC)cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
    and (AD)dwell upon it forever.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:22 Hebrew by him

12 The wicked plot(A) against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth(B) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.(C)

14 The wicked draw the sword(D)
    and bend the bow(E)
to bring down the poor and needy,(F)
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(G)
    and their bows will be broken.(H)

16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth(I) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(J)
    but the Lord upholds(K) the righteous.

18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(L)
    and their inheritance will endure forever.(M)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish:(N)
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(O)

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;(P)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses(Q) will be destroyed.(R)

23 The Lord makes firm the steps(S)
    of the one who delights(T) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(U)
    for the Lord upholds(V) him with his hand.

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(W)
    or their children begging(X) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(Y)
    their children will be a blessing.[a](Z)

27 Turn from evil and do good;(AA)
    then you will dwell in the land forever.(AB)
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.(AC)

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[b];
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.(AD)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(AE)
    and dwell in it forever.(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
  2. Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever