Psalms 37

¹ Of David. Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.

² Like grass they wither quickly; like green plants they wilt away.

³ Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land and live secure.

⁴ Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart's desire.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; trust that God will act

⁶ And make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday.

⁷ Be still before the LORD; wait for God. Do not be provoked by the prosperous, nor by malicious schemers.

⁸ Give up your anger, abandon your wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm.

⁹ Those who do evil will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will possess the land.

¹⁰ Wait a little, and the wicked will be no more; look for them and they will not be there.

¹¹ But the poor will possess the land, will delight in great prosperity.

¹² The wicked plot against the just and grind their teeth at them;

¹³ But the LORD laughs at them, knowing their day is coming.

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 swords will pierce their own hearts; their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ Better the poverty of the just than the great wealth of the wicked.

¹⁷ The arms of the wicked will be broken; the LORD will sustain the just.

¹⁸ The LORD watches over the days of the blameless; their heritage lasts forever.

¹⁹ They will not be disgraced when times are hard; in days of famine they will have plenty.

²⁰ The wicked perish, the enemies of the LORD; Like the beauty of meadows they vanish; like smoke they disappear.

²¹ The wicked borrow but do not repay; the just are generous in giving.

²² For those blessed by the Lord will possess the land, but those accursed will be cut off.

²³ Those whose steps are guided by the LORD; whose way God approves,

²⁴ May stumble, but they will never fall, for the LORD holds their hand.

²⁵ Neither in my youth, nor now in old age have I ever seen the just abandoned or their children begging bread.

²⁶ The just always lend generously, and their children become a blessing.

²⁷ Turn from evil and do good, that you may inhabit the land forever.

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 just will possess the land and live in it forever.

³⁰ The mouths of the just utter wisdom; their tongues speak what is right.

³¹ God's teaching is in their hearts; their steps do not falter.

³² The wicked spy on the just and seek to kill them.

³³ But the LORD does not leave the just in their power, nor let them be condemned when tried.

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 ruthless scoundrels, strong as flourishing cedars.

³⁶ When I passed by again, they were gone; though I searched, they could not be found.

³⁷ Observe the honest, mark the upright; those at peace with God have a future.

³⁸ But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

³⁹ The salvation of the just is from the LORD, their refuge in time of distress.

⁴⁰ The LORD helps and rescues them, rescues and saves them from the wicked, because in God they take refuge.