THE BOOK OF PSALMS

Psalm 37

A Psalm of David.

1 ¶ Do not fret because of evildoers, or envy those who do wrong.

2 For they will soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green plant.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do what is good; dwell thus in the land, and you will truly be fed.

4 Delight in the LORD; and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him; and he will bring it to pass.

6 He will make your righteousness shine forth, and your judgment as the noonday.

7 ¶ Be calm in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: do not get upset because of the man who is successful in carrying out his evil plans.

8 Stop being angry, and quit raging: do not stir yourself up to do evil.

9 For evildoers will be cut off: but those who wait on the LORD, they will inherit the earth.

10 For in a little while the wicked will be gone: yea, you will look carefully where he was, and he will not be found.

11 But the meek will inherit the earth; and will be delighted with abundant prosperity.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous, and grinds his teeth in anger at him.

13 The Lord will laugh at him: for he sees that his day is coming.

14 Wicked men draw their swords, and bend their bows, to strike down the poor and needy, and to kill those who are blameless in their conduct.

15 Their sword will enter into their own heart, and their bows will be broken.

16 The little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many who are wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken: but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18 The LORD knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance will last forever.

19 They will not be put to shame in time of trouble: and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

20 But the wicked will perish, and the enemies of the LORD will vanish like the fat of lambs: they will be consumed; they will disappear into smoke.

21 ¶ The wicked borrows, and does not repay: but the righteous shows mercy, and gives.

22 For such as are blessed by God will inherit the earth; and those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.

24 He may fall, but will not be totally overcome: for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

26 He is always merciful, and lends; and his children will be blessed.

27 Shun evil, and do good; and remain forever.

28 For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake his saints; they will be preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked will be cut down.

29 The righteous will inherit the land, and live in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue says what is right.

31 The teaching of his God is in his heart; and none of his steps will falter.

32 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him.

33 But the LORD will not leave him in his power, or condemn him when he is judged.

34 ¶ Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he will raise you up to inherit the land: you will watch when the wicked are destroyed.

35 I have seen the wicked exercising great power, and spreading himself like a tree full of leaves.

36 Yet he passed away, and he was no more: yea, I looked for him, but he could not be found.

37 Watch the blameless, and look at the upright: for the end of that man will be peace.

38 As for transgressors, they will be completely destroyed: in the end the wicked will be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 And the LORD will help them, and deliver them: he will deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.