Psalm 37:12-29

English Standard Version

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.