Psalms 37

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.	1 Of David. Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.	2 Like grass they wither quickly; like green plants they wilt away.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.	3 Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.	4 Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart's desire.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.	5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust that God will act
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.	6 And make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.	7 Be still before the LORD; wait for God. Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.	8 Give up your anger, abandon your wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.	9 Those who do evil will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will possess the land.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.	10 Wait a little, and the wicked will be no more; look for them and they will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.	11 But the poor will possess the land, will delight in great prosperity.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.	12 The wicked plot against the just and grind their teeth at them;
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.	13 But the LORD laughs at them, knowing their day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.	14 The wicked draw their swords; they string their bows To fell the poor and oppressed, to slaughter those whose way is honest.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.	15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts; their bows will be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.	16 Better the poverty of the just than the great wealth of the wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.	17 The arms of the wicked will be broken; the LORD will sustain the just.
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.	18 The LORD watches over the days of the blameless; their heritage lasts forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.	19 They will not be disgraced when times are hard; in days of famine they will have plenty.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.	20 The wicked perish, the enemies of the LORD; Like the beauty of meadows they vanish; like smoke they disappear.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.	21 The wicked borrow but do not repay; the just are generous in giving.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.	22 For those blessed by the Lord will possess the land, but those accursed will be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.	23 Those whose steps are guided by the LORD; whose way God approves,
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.	24 May stumble, but they will never fall, for the LORD holds their hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.	25 Neither in my youth, nor now in old age have I ever seen the just abandoned or their children begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.	26 The just always lend generously, and their children become a blessing.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.	27 Turn from evil and do good, that you may inhabit the land forever.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.	28 For the LORD loves justice and does not abandon the faithful. When the unjust are destroyed, and the children of the wicked cut off,
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.	29 The just will possess the land and live in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.	30 The mouths of the just utter wisdom; their tongues speak what is right.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.	31 God's teaching is in their hearts; their steps do not falter.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.	32 The wicked spy on the just and seek to kill them.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.	33 But the LORD does not leave the just in their power, nor let them be condemned when tried.
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.	34 Wait eagerly for the LORD, and keep to the way; God will raise you to possess the land; you will gloat when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.	35 I have seen ruthless scoundrels, strong as flourishing cedars.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.	36 When I passed by again, they were gone; though I searched, they could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.	37 Observe the honest, mark the upright; those at peace with God have a future.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.	38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.	39 The salvation of the just is from the LORD, their refuge in time of distress.
40 And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.	40 The LORD helps and rescues them, rescues and saves them from the wicked, because in God they take refuge.