义人和恶人的结局

大卫的诗。

37 不要因为恶人而烦恼,
也不要羡慕作恶之人,
因为他们如瞬息枯萎的草芥,
又如转眼消逝的绿草。

要信靠耶和华,要行善,
要在这片土地上安然度日。
要以耶和华为乐,
祂必成全你的愿望。
要把一切交托给耶和华,
信靠祂,祂必帮助你,
使你的公义如晨光照耀,
你的仁义如日中天。
要在耶和华面前安静,
耐心等候祂,
不要因恶人道路通达、阴谋得逞而愤愤不平。
你要抑制怒气,除掉愤怒;
不要心怀不平,
那会导致你作恶。
因为作恶的终必灭亡,
但等候耶和华的必承受土地。
10 再过片刻,恶人必不复存在,
无处可寻。
11 但谦卑人必承受土地,
得享太平。

12 恶人谋害义人,
对他们咬牙切齿。
13 但耶和华嗤笑邪恶人,
因为祂知道他们末日将临。
14 恶人拔剑张弓要消灭穷苦人,
杀戮正直人,
15 但他们的剑必刺穿自己的心,
他们的弓必被折断。

16 义人淡泊一生强过恶人财富如山。
17 因为恶人的势力终必瓦解,
耶和华必扶持义人。
18 耶和华天天看顾纯全无过的人,
他们的产业永远长存。
19 他们在灾难中不致绝望,
在饥荒时仍得饱足。
20 但恶人必灭亡,
上帝的仇敌必像野地枯萎的花草,
消逝如烟。

21 恶人借债不还,
义人慷慨给予。
22 蒙耶和华赐福的人必承受土地,
被耶和华咒诅的人必遭铲除。
23 耶和华引领义人的脚步,
喜悦他们所走的路。
24 他们即使失脚,也不会跌倒,
因为耶和华的手扶持他们。

25 从幼年到老年,
我从未见过义人遭弃,
也未见其后人讨饭。
26 他们乐善好施,
后代都蒙祝福。

27 你要离恶行善,
就必永远安居。
28 因为耶和华喜爱正义,
不丢弃信靠祂的人,
永远保护他们。
恶人的后代必被铲除。
29 义人必承受土地,
在地上永远安居。

30 义人口出智慧,诉说正义,
31 铭记上帝的律法,
从不失脚。

32 恶人窥探义人,
伺机谋害。
33 但耶和华不会让恶人得逞,
也不会让义人在审判时被定罪。

34 要等候耶和华,
坚守祂的道,
祂必赐你土地,使你有尊荣。
你必亲眼看见恶人被铲除。
35 我见过邪恶残暴之人,
乍看如葱茏的黎巴嫩香柏树,
36 再一看,
他已经消失得无影无踪,
无处可寻。
37 你看那纯全正直、爱好和平的人,
他们前途美好。
38 罪人必遭毁灭,
恶人必被铲除。
39 耶和华拯救义人,
患难时作他们的庇护所。
40 耶和华帮助他们,
拯救他们脱离恶人,
因为他们投靠祂。

倚靠 神的不要心怀不平

大卫的诗。

37 不要因作恶的人心怀不平,

不要因犯罪的人产生嫉妒。(本节在《马索拉文本》包括细字标题)

因为他们好象草快要枯干,

像即将凋萎的青草。

你要倚靠耶和华,并要行善;

你要住在地上,以信实为粮食。

你要以耶和华为乐,

他就把你心里所求的赐给你。

你要把你的道路交托耶和华,

并倚靠他,他就必成全。

他必使你的公义好象光发出,

使你的公正如日中天。

你要在耶和华面前静默无声,

耐心地等候他;

不要因那凡事顺利的,

和那恶谋得逞的,心怀不平。

你要抑制怒气,消除烈怒;

不要心怀不平,那只会导致你作恶。

因为作恶的必被剪除,

但等候耶和华的必承受地土。

10 再过不久,恶人就不存在了;

你到他的地方寻找,也找不到。

11 但谦卑的人必承受地土,

可以享受丰盛的平安。

12 恶人谋害义人,

向他咬牙切齿;

13 但主必笑他,

因为知道他遭报的日子快要来到。

14 恶人已经拔出刀来,拉开了弓,

要打倒困苦和贫穷的人,

杀害行为正直的人。

15 他们的刀必刺入自己的心,

他们的弓必被折断。

16 一个义人拥有的虽少,

胜过许多恶人的财富。

17 因为恶人的膀臂必被折断,

耶和华却扶持义人。

18 耶和华眷顾完全人在世的日子,

他们的产业必存到永远。

19 在患难的时候,他们必不蒙羞;

在饥荒的日子,他们必得饱足。

20 恶人却必灭亡;

耶和华的仇敌好象草场的华美,

他们必要消失,像烟一般消失。

21 恶人借贷总不偿还,

义人却慷慨施舍。

22 蒙耶和华赐福的,必承受地土;

受他咒诅的,必被剪除。

23 人的脚步是耶和华立定的,

他的道路也是耶和华喜悦的。

24 他虽然跌跤,却不至仆倒;

因为耶和华用手扶持他。

25 我从前年幼,现在年老,

从未见过义人被弃,

也从未见过他的后裔讨饭。

26 他常常慷慨借给人;

他的后裔必定蒙福。

27 应当离恶行善,

你就可以永远安居。

28 因为耶和华喜爱公正,

也不撇弃他的圣民;

他们必永远蒙庇佑,

恶人的后裔却必被剪除。

29 义人必承受地土,

永远居住在自己的地上。

30 义人的口说出智慧,

他的舌头讲论正义。

31  神的律法在他心里,

他的脚步必不滑跌。

32 恶人窥伺义人,

想要杀死他。

33 耶和华必不把他撇弃在恶人的手中,

在审判的时候,也不定他的罪。

34 你要等候耶和华,谨守他的道;

他必高举你,使你承受地土;

恶人被剪除的时候,你必看见。

35 我曾看见强暴的恶人兴旺,

像树木在本土茂盛。

36 但他很快就消逝,不再存在了;

我寻找他,却找不到。

37 你要细察完全人,观看正直人;

因为爱和平的必有后代。

38 犯罪的人必一同灭绝,

恶人的后代必被剪除。

39 义人的拯救是由耶和华而来;

在患难的时候,他作他们的避难所。

40 耶和华帮助他们,搭救他们;

他搭救他们脱离恶人,拯救他们,

因为他们投靠他。

Security of Those Who Trust in the Lord, and Insecurity of the Wicked.

A Psalm of David.

37 (A)Do not get upset because of evildoers,
Do not be (B)envious of wrongdoers.
For they will (C)wither quickly like the grass,
And (D)decay like the green plants.
(E)Trust in the Lord and do good;
(F)Live in the land and [a](G)cultivate faithfulness.
(H)Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will (I)give you the desires of your heart.
(J)Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
He will bring out (K)your righteousness as the light,
And your judgment (L)as the noonday.

[b]Rest in the Lord and (M)wait [c]patiently for Him;
(N)Do not get upset because of one who is (O)successful in his way,
Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.
Cease from anger and (P)abandon wrath;
Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
For (Q)evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will (R)inherit the land.
10 Yet (S)a little while and the wicked person will be no more;
And you will look carefully for (T)his place and he will not be there.
11 But (U)the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in (V)abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked (W)plots against the righteous,
And (X)gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord (Y)laughs at him,
For He sees that (Z)his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and (AA)bent their bow
To take down the (AB)afflicted and the needy,
To (AC)kill off those who are upright in conduct.
15 Their sword will enter their own heart,
And their (AD)bows will be broken.

16 (AE)Better is the little of the righteous
Than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the (AF)arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the Lord (AG)sustains the righteous.
18 The Lord (AH)knows the days of the [d]blameless,
And their (AI)inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And (AJ)in the days of famine they will have plenty.
20 But the (AK)wicked will perish;
And the enemies of the Lord will be like the [e]glory of the pastures,
They vanish—(AL)like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous (AM)is gracious and gives.
22 For (AN)those blessed by Him will (AO)inherit the land,
But those (AP)cursed by Him will be eliminated.

23 (AQ)The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He (AR)delights in his way.
24 When (AS)he falls, he will not be hurled down,
Because (AT)the Lord is the One [f]who holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old,
Yet (AU)I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or (AV)his [g]descendants begging for bread.
26 All day long (AW)he is gracious and lends,
And (AX)his [h]descendants are a blessing.

27 (AY)Turn from evil and do good,
So that you will dwell (AZ)forever.
28 For the Lord (BA)loves [i]justice
And (BB)does not abandon His godly ones;
They are (BC)protected forever,
But the [j](BD)descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
29 The righteous will (BE)inherit the land
And (BF)dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous (BG)utters wisdom,
And his tongue (BH)speaks justice.
31 The (BI)Law of his God is in his heart;
His (BJ)steps do not slip.
32 The (BK)wicked spies upon the righteous
And (BL)seeks to kill him.
33 The Lord will (BM)not leave him in his hand
Or (BN)let him be condemned when he is judged.
34 (BO)Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the (BP)wicked are eliminated, you will see it.

35 I have (BQ)seen a wicked, violent person
Spreading himself like a (BR)luxuriant [k]tree in its native soil.
36 Then he passed away, and behold, he (BS)was no more;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 Observe the [l](BT)blameless person, and look at the (BU)upright;
For the person of peace will have (BV)a future.
38 But wrongdoers will altogether be (BW)destroyed;
The future of the wicked will be (BX)eliminated.
39 But the (BY)salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength (BZ)in time of trouble.
40 (CA)The Lord helps them and rescues them;
He (CB)rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they (CC)take refuge in Him.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:3 Or feed securely; or feed on His faithfulness
  2. Psalm 37:7 Or Be still
  3. Psalm 37:7 Or longingly
  4. Psalm 37:18 Lit complete; or perfect
  5. Psalm 37:20 I.e., flowers
  6. Psalm 37:24 Or who sustains him with His hand
  7. Psalm 37:25 Lit seed
  8. Psalm 37:26 Lit seed
  9. Psalm 37:28 Lit judgment
  10. Psalm 37:28 Lit seed
  11. Psalm 37:35 Lit native; Heb obscure
  12. Psalm 37:37 Lit complete; or perfect

Psalm 37[a]

A psalm of David.

Don’t worry about the wicked
    or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away.
    Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the Lord and do good.
    Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
    and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop being angry!
    Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
    it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed,
    but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

10 Soon the wicked will disappear.
    Though you look for them, they will be gone.
11 The lowly will possess the land
    and will live in peace and prosperity.

12 The wicked plot against the godly;
    they snarl at them in defiance.
13 But the Lord just laughs,
    for he sees their day of judgment coming.

14 The wicked draw their swords
    and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
    to slaughter those who do right.
15 But their swords will stab their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.

16 It is better to be godly and have little
    than to be evil and rich.
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
    but the Lord takes care of the godly.

18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
    and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
    even in famine they will have more than enough.

20 But the wicked will die.
    The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field—
    they will disappear like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
    but the godly are generous givers.
22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,
    but those he curses will die.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
    Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
    or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
    and their children are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good,
    and you will live in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice,
    and he will never abandon the godly.

He will keep them safe forever,
    but the children of the wicked will die.
29 The godly will possess the land
    and will live there forever.

30 The godly offer good counsel;
    they teach right from wrong.
31 They have made God’s law their own,
    so they will never slip from his path.

32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,
    looking for an excuse to kill them.
33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed
    or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

34 Put your hope in the Lord.
    Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
    You will see the wicked destroyed.

35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people
    flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
    Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37 Look at those who are honest and good,
    for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
    they have no future.

39 The Lord rescues the godly;
    he is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them,
    rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
    and they find shelter in him.

Footnotes

  1. 37 This psalm is a Hebrew acrostic poem; each stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.