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By David.

37 Don’t fret because of evildoers,
    neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
    and wither like the green herb.
Trust in Yahweh, and do good.
    Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
Also delight yourself in Yahweh,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to Yahweh.
    Trust also in him, and he will do this:
he will make your righteousness shine out like light,
    and your justice as the noon day sun.
Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him.
    Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way,
    because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.
    Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more.
    Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
11 But the humble shall inherit the land,
    and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plots against the just,
    and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord will laugh at him,
    for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow,
    to cast down the poor and needy,
    to kill those who are upright on the path.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart.
    Their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is a little that the righteous has,
    than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but Yahweh upholds the righteous.
18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect.
    Their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil.
    In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish.
    The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields.
    They will vanish—
    vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back,
    but the righteous give generously.
22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land.
    Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 A man’s steps are established by Yahweh.
    He delights in his way.
24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall,
    for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
    nor his children begging for bread.
26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends.
    His offspring is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good.
    Live securely forever.
28 For Yahweh loves justice,
    and doesn’t forsake his saints.
    They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
    and live in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom.
    His tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart.
    None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watch the righteous,
    and seek to kill him.
33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand,
    nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land.
    When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
    spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was not.
    Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together.
    The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh.
    He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them.
    He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they have taken refuge in him.

Psalm 37

Exhortation to Patience and Trust

Of David.

Do not fret because of the wicked;
    do not be envious of wrongdoers,(A)
for they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.(B)

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    live in the land and enjoy security.(C)
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.(D)

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.(E)
He will make your vindication shine like the light
    and the justice of your cause like the noonday.(F)

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
    do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
    over those who carry out evil devices.(G)

Refrain from anger and forsake wrath.
    Do not fret—it leads only to evil.(H)
For the wicked shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.(I)

10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.(J)
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.(K)

12 The wicked plot against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth at them,(L)
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that their day is coming.(M)

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to kill those who walk uprightly;(N)
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their bows shall be broken.(O)

16 Better is a little that the righteous person has
    than the abundance of many wicked.(P)
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.(Q)

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

20 But the wicked perish,
    and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.(T)

21 The wicked borrow and do not pay back,
    but the righteous are generous and keep giving;(U)
22 surely those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him shall be cut off.(V)

23 Our steps[a] are made firm by the Lord
    when he delights in our[b] way;(W)
24 though we stumble, we[c] shall not fall headlong,
    for the Lord holds us[d] by the hand.(X)

25 I have been young and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.(Y)
26 They are ever giving liberally and lending,
    and their children become a blessing.(Z)

27 Depart from evil, and do good;
    so you shall abide forever.(AA)
28 For the Lord loves justice;
    he will not forsake his faithful ones.

The righteous shall be kept safe forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.(AB)
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
    and live in it forever.(AC)

30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
    and their tongues speak justice.(AD)
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
    their steps do not slip.(AE)

32 The wicked watch for the righteous
    and seek to kill them.(AF)
33 The Lord will not abandon them to their power
    or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.(AG)

34 Wait for the Lord and keep to his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on the destruction of the wicked.(AH)

35 I have seen the wicked oppressing
    and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.[e](AI)
36 Again I[f] passed by, and they were no more;
    though I sought them, they could not be found.(AJ)

37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is posterity for the peaceable.(AK)
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.(AL)

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their refuge in the time of trouble.(AM)
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
    he rescues them from the wicked and saves them
    because they take refuge in him.(AN)

Footnotes

  1. 37.23 Heb A man’s steps
  2. 37.23 Heb his
  3. 37.24 Heb he stumbles, he
  4. 37.24 Heb him
  5. 37.35 Gk: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  6. 37.36 Gk Syr Jerome: Heb he