23 (A)The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He (B)delights in his way.
24 When (C)he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because (D)the Lord is the One [a]who holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old,
Yet (E)I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or (F)his [b]descendants begging bread.
26 All day long (G)he is gracious and lends,
And (H)his [c]descendants are a blessing.

27 (I)Depart from evil and do good,
[d]So you will abide (J)forever.
28 For the Lord (K)loves [e]justice
And (L)does not forsake His godly ones;
They are (M)preserved forever,
But the [f](N)descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous will (O)inherit the land
And (P)dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous (Q)utters wisdom,
And his tongue (R)speaks justice.
31 The (S)law of his God is in his heart;
His (T)steps do not slip.
32 The (U)wicked spies upon the righteous
And (V)seeks to kill him.
33 The Lord will (W)not leave him in his hand
Or (X)let him be condemned when he is judged.
34 (Y)Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the (Z)wicked are cut off, you will see it.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:24 Or who sustains him with His hand
  2. Psalm 37:25 Lit seed
  3. Psalm 37:26 Lit seed
  4. Psalm 37:27 Or And dwell forever
  5. Psalm 37:28 Lit judgment
  6. Psalm 37:28 Lit seed

23 The Lord makes firm the steps(A)
    of the one who delights(B) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(C)
    for the Lord upholds(D) him with his hand.

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

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

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

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(O)
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(P)
    their feet do not slip.(Q)

32 The wicked lie in wait(R) for the righteous,(S)
    intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned(T) when brought to trial.(U)

34 Hope in the Lord(V)
    and keep his way.(W)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed,(X) you will see(Y) it.

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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