Psalms 37
Psalm 371
By David.
37:1 Do not fret2 when wicked men seem to succeed!3
Do not envy evildoers!
37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass,
and wither away like plants.4
37:3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!5
37:4 Then you will take delight in the Lord,6
and he will answer your prayers.7
37:5 Commit your future to the Lord!8
Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.9
37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,
and publicly defend your just cause.10
37:7 Wait patiently for the Lord!11
Wait confidently12 for him!
Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner,13
a man who carries out wicked schemes!
37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated!14
Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
37:9 Wicked men15 will be wiped out,16
but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.17
37:10 Evil men will soon disappear;18
you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.19
37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land
and enjoy great prosperity.20
37:12 Evil men plot against the godly21
and viciously attack them.22
37:13 The Lord laughs in disgust23 at them,
for he knows that their day is coming.24
37:14 Evil men draw their swords
and prepare their bows,
to bring down25 the oppressed and needy,
and to slaughter those who are godly.26
37:15 Their swords will pierce27 their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than
the wealth of many evil men,28
37:17 for evil men will lose their power,29
but the Lord sustains30 the godly.
37:18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day31
and they possess a permanent inheritance.32
37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come;33
when famine comes they will have enough to eat.34
37:20 But35 evil men will die;
the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated36 –
they will go up in smoke.37
37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,
but the godly show compassion and are generous.38
37:22 Surely39 those favored by the Lord40 will possess the land,
but those rejected41 by him will be wiped out.42
37:23 The Lord grants success to the one
whose behavior he finds commendable.43
37:24 Even if44 he trips, he will not fall headlong,45
for the Lord holds46 his hand.
37:25 I was once young, now I am old.
I have never seen a godly man abandoned,
or his children47 forced to search for food.48
37:26 All day long he shows compassion and lends to others,49
and his children50 are blessed.
37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right!51
Then you will enjoy lasting security.52
37:28 For the Lord promotes53 justice,
and never abandons54 his faithful followers.
They are permanently secure,55
but the children56 of evil men are wiped out.57
37:29 The godly will possess the land
and will dwell in it permanently.
37:30 The godly speak wise words
and promote justice.58
37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking;59
their60 feet do not slip.
37:32 Evil men set an ambush for the godly
and try to kill them.61
37:33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly,
or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.62
37:34 Rely63 on the Lord! Obey his commands!64
Then he will permit you65 to possess the land;
you will see the demise of evil men.66
37:35 I have seen ruthless evil men67
growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.68
37:36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared!69
I looked for them, but they could not be found.
37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly!70
For the one who promotes peace has a future.71
37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed;72
evil men have no future.73
37:39 But the Lord delivers the godly;74
he protects them in times of trouble.75
37:40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;
he rescues them from evil men and delivers them,76
for they seek his protection.