Psalms 37

Do not fret because of evildoers

Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.a ²For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.b ³Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.c

⁴Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.d ⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.e ⁶He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.f

⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.g ⁸Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.h ⁹For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.i

¹⁰Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.j ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.k ¹²The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, ¹³but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.l

¹⁴The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. ¹⁵But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.m ¹⁶Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.n

¹⁷For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.o ¹⁸The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.p ¹⁹In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.q

²⁰But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away. ²¹The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.r ²²Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.s

²³The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.t ²⁴Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.u ²⁵I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.v

²⁶They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing. ²⁷Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.w ²⁸For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.x

²⁹The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.y ³⁰The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.z ³¹The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.aa

³²Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, ³³the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment. ³⁴Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.ab

³⁵I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,ac ³⁶yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.ad ³⁷Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.ae

³⁸But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. ³⁹The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.af ⁴⁰The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.ag