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Psalm 36-39
Contemporary English Version
Psalm 36-39
Contemporary English Version
(For the music leader by David, the Lord's servant.)
Human Sin and God's Goodness
1 (A) Sinners don't respect God;
sin is all they think about.
2 They like themselves too much
to hate their own sins
or even to see them.
3 They tell deceitful lies,
and they don't have the sense
to live right.
4 Those people stay awake,
thinking up mischief,
and they follow the wrong road,
refusing to turn from sin.
5 Your love is faithful, Lord,
and even the clouds in the sky
can depend on you.
6 Your decisions are always fair.
They are firm like mountains,
deep like the sea,
and all people and animals
are under your care.
7 Your love is a treasure,
and everyone finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You give your guests a feast
in your house,
and you serve a tasty drink
that flows like a river.
9 The life-giving fountain
belongs to you,
and your light gives light
to each of us.
10 Our Lord, keep showing love
to everyone who knows you,
and use your power to save all
whose thoughts please you.
11 Don't let those proud
and merciless people
kick me around
or chase me away.
12 Look at those wicked people!
They are knocked down,
never to get up again.
(By David.)
Trust the Lord
1 Don't be annoyed by anyone
who does wrong,
and don't envy them.
2 They will soon disappear
like grass without rain.
3 Trust the Lord and live right!
The land will be yours,
and you will be safe.
4 Do what the Lord wants,
and he will give you
your heart's desire.
5 Let the Lord lead you
and trust him to help.
6 Then it will be as clear
as the noonday sun
that you were right.
7 Be patient and trust the Lord.
Don't let it bother you
when all goes well for those
who do sinful things.
8 Don't be angry or furious.
Anger can lead to sin.
9 All sinners will disappear,
but if you trust the Lord,
the land will be yours.
10 Sinners will soon disappear,
never to be found,
11 (B) but the poor will take the land
and enjoy a big harvest.
12 Merciless people make plots
against good people
and snarl like animals,
13 but the Lord laughs and knows
their time is coming soon.
14 The wicked kill with swords
and shoot arrows to murder
the poor and the needy
and all who do right.
15 But they will be killed
by their own swords,
and their arrows
will be broken.
16 It is better to live right
and be poor
than to be sinful and rich.
17 The wicked will lose all
of their power,
but the Lord gives strength
to everyone who is good.
18 Those who obey the Lord
are daily in his care,
and what he has given them
will be theirs forever.
19 They won't be in trouble
when times are bad,
and they will have plenty
when food is scarce.
20 Wicked people are enemies
of the Lord
and will vanish like smoke
from a field on fire.
21 An evil person borrows
and never pays back;
a good person is generous
and never stops giving.
22 Everyone the Lord blesses
will receive the land;
everyone the Lord curses
will be destroyed.
23 If you do what the Lord wants,
he will make certain
each step you take is sure.
24 The Lord will hold your hand,
and if you stumble,
you still won't fall.
25 As long as I can remember,
good people have never
been left helpless,
and their children have never
gone begging for food.
26 They gladly give and lend,
and their children
turn out good.
27 If you stop sinning
and start doing right,
you will keep living
and be secure forever.
28 The Lord loves justice,
and he won't ever desert
his faithful people.
He always protects them,
but destroys the children
of the wicked.
29 God's people will own the land
and live here forever.
30 Words of wisdom come
when good people speak
for justice.
31 They remember God's teachings,
and they never take
a wrong step.
32 The wicked try to trap
and kill good people,
33 but the Lord is on their side,
and he will defend them
when they are on trial.
34 Trust the Lord and follow him.
He will give you the land,
and you will see
the wicked destroyed.
35 I have seen brutal people
abuse others and grow strong
like trees in rich soil.[a]
36 Suddenly they disappeared!
I looked, but they were gone
and no longer there.
37 Think of the bright future
waiting for all the families
of honest, innocent,
and peace-loving people.
38 But not a trace will be left
of the wicked
or their families.
39 The Lord protects his people,
and they can come to him
in times of trouble.
40 The Lord helps his people
and saves them from the wicked
because they run to him.
(A psalm by David to be used when an offering is made.)
A Prayer in Times of Trouble
1 When you are angry, Lord,
please don't punish me
or even correct me.
2 You shot me with your arrows,
and you struck me
with your hand.
3 My body hurts all over
because of your anger.
Even my bones are in pain,
and my sins 4 are so heavy
that I am crushed.
5 Because of my foolishness,
I am covered with sores
that stink and spread.
6 My body is twisted and bent,
and I groan all day long.
7 Fever has my back in flames,
and I hurt everywhere.
8 I am worn out and weak,
moaning and in distress.
9 You, Lord, know every one
of my deepest desires,
and my noisy groans
are no secret to you.
10 My heart is beating fast.
I feel weak all over,
and my eyes are red.
11 Because of my sickness,
no friends or neighbors
will come near me.
12 All who want me dead
set traps to catch me,
and those who want
to harm and destroy me
plan and plot all day.
13 I am not able to hear
or speak a word;
14 I am completely deaf
and can't make a sound.
15 I trust you, Lord God,
and you will do something.
16 I said, “Don't let them laugh
or brag when I slip and fall.”
17 I am about to collapse
from constant pain.
18 I told you my sins,
and I am sorry for them.
19 Many deadly and powerful
enemies hate me,
20 and they repay evil for good
because I try to do right.
21 You are the Lord God!
Stay nearby
and don't desert me.
22 You are the one who saves me.
Please hurry and help.
(A psalm by David for Jeduthun, the music leader.)
A Prayer for Forgiveness
1 I told myself, “I'll be careful
not to sin by what I say,
and I'll muzzle my mouth
when evil people are near.”
2 I kept completely silent,
but it did no good,[b]
and I hurt even worse.
3 I felt a fire burning inside,
and the more I thought,
the more it burned,
until at last I said:
4 “Please, Lord,
show me my future.
Will I soon be gone?
5 You made my life short,
so brief that the time
means nothing to you.
“Human life is but a breath,
6 and it disappears
like a shadow.
Our struggles are senseless;
we store up more and more,
without ever knowing
who will get it all.
7 “What am I waiting for?
I depend on you, Lord!
8 Save me from my sins.
Don't let fools sneer at me.
9 You treated me like this,
and I kept silent,
not saying a word.
10 “Won't you stop punishing me?
You have worn me down.
11 You punish us severely
because of our sins.
Like a moth, you destroy
what we treasure most.
We are as frail as a breath.
12 “Listen, Lord, to my prayer!
My eyes are flooded with tears,
as I pray to you.
I am merely a stranger
visiting in your home
as my ancestors did.
13 Stop being angry with me
and let me smile again
before I am dead and gone.”
Psalm 36-39
New International Version
Psalm 36-39
New International Version
Psalm 36[a]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
before their eyes.(C)
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
3 The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;(I)
they commit themselves to a sinful course(J)
and do not reject what is wrong.(K)
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness(L) to the skies.(M)
6 Your righteousness(N) is like the highest mountains,(O)
your justice like the great deep.(P)
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(Q)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(R)
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(S)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;(T)
you give them drink from your river(U) of delights.(V)
9 For with you is the fountain of life;(W)
in your light(X) we see light.
10 Continue your love(Y) to those who know you,(Z)
your righteousness to the upright in heart.(AA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked(AB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!(AC)
Psalm 37[c]
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious(AD) of those who do wrong;(AE)
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,(AF)
like green plants they will soon die away.(AG)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land(AH) and enjoy safe pasture.(AI)
4 Take delight(AJ) in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.(AK)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him(AL) and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward(AM) shine like the dawn,(AN)
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still(AO) before the Lord
and wait patiently(AP) for him;
do not fret(AQ) when people succeed in their ways,(AR)
when they carry out their wicked schemes.(AS)
8 Refrain from anger(AT) and turn from wrath;
do not fret(AU)—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,(AV)
but those who hope(AW) in the Lord will inherit the land.(AX)
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(AY)
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(AZ)
and enjoy peace and prosperity.(BA)
12 The wicked plot(BB) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth(BC) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.(BD)
14 The wicked draw the sword(BE)
and bend the bow(BF)
to bring down the poor and needy,(BG)
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(BH)
and their bows will be broken.(BI)
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth(BJ) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(BK)
but the Lord upholds(BL) the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(BM)
and their inheritance will endure forever.(BN)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:(BO)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(BP)
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;(BQ)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses(BR) will be destroyed.(BS)
23 The Lord makes firm the steps(BT)
of the one who delights(BU) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(BV)
for the Lord upholds(BW) him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(BX)
or their children begging(BY) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(BZ)
their children will be a blessing.[d](CA)
27 Turn from evil and do good;(CB)
then you will dwell in the land forever.(CC)
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.(CD)
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[e];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.(CE)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(CF)
and dwell in it forever.(CG)
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(CH)
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(CI)
their feet do not slip.(CJ)
32 The wicked lie in wait(CK) for the righteous,(CL)
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(CM) when brought to trial.(CN)
34 Hope in the Lord(CO)
and keep his way.(CP)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed,(CQ) you will see(CR) it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing(CS) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.(CT)
37 Consider the blameless,(CU) observe the upright;(CV)
a future awaits those who seek peace.[f](CW)
38 But all sinners(CX) will be destroyed;(CY)
there will be no future[g] for the wicked.(CZ)
39 The salvation(DA) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(DB)
40 The Lord helps(DC) them and delivers(DD) them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves(DE) them,
because they take refuge(DF) in him.
Psalm 38[h]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(DG)
2 Your arrows(DH) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(DI) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(DJ) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(DK) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(DL)
5 My wounds(DM) fester and are loathsome(DN)
because of my sinful folly.(DO)
6 I am bowed down(DP) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(DQ)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(DR)
there is no health(DS) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(DT)
I groan(DU) in anguish of heart.(DV)
9 All my longings(DW) lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing(DX) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(DY) my strength fails(DZ) me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.(EA)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(EB)
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(EC)
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(ED)
all day long they scheme and lie.(EE)
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(EF)
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(EG) for you;
you will answer,(EH) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(EI)
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(EJ)
17 For I am about to fall,(EK)
and my pain(EL) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(EM)
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(EN) without cause[i];
those who hate me(EO) without reason(EP) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(EQ)
lodge accusations(ER) against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me;(ES)
do not be far(ET) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(EU) to help me,(EV)
my Lord and my Savior.(EW)
Psalm 39[j]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(EX)
and keep my tongue from sin;(EY)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(EZ)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(FA)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(FB) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(FC) within me.
While I meditated,(FD) the fire(FE) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(FF)
let me know how fleeting(FG) my life is.(FH)
5 You have made my days(FI) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(FJ)
even those who seem secure.[k]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(FK) like a mere phantom;(FL)
in vain they rush about,(FM) heaping up wealth(FN)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(FO)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(FP)
8 Save me(FQ) from all my transgressions;(FR)
do not make me the scorn(FS) of fools.
9 I was silent;(FT) I would not open my mouth,(FU)
for you are the one who has done this.(FV)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(FW) of your hand.(FX)
11 When you rebuke(FY) and discipline(FZ) anyone for their sin,
you consume(GA) their wealth like a moth(GB)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(GC)
Footnotes
- Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
- Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- 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
- Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
- Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
- Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
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