| 1 A Psalm of David. Fret not yourself because of the wicked, be not envious of wrongdoers! |
| 2 For they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. |
| 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security. |
| 4 Take 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 act. |
| 6 He will bring forth your vindication as the light, and your right as the noonday. |
| 7 Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over him who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! |
| 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. |
| 9 For the wicked shall be cut off; but those who wait for the LORD shall possess the land. |
| 10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look well at his place, he will not be there. |
| 11 But the meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. |
| 12 The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him; |
| 13 but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. |
| 14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows, to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly; |
| 15 their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. |
| 16 Better is a little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. |
| 17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the LORD upholds the righteous. |
| 18 The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide for ever; |
| 19 they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance. |
| 20 But the wicked perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures, they vanish--like smoke they vanish away. |
| 21 The wicked borrows, and cannot pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; |
| 22 for those blessed by the LORD shall possess the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. |
| 23 The steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose way he delights; |
| 24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD is the stay of his hand. |
| 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread. |
| 26 He is ever giving liberally and lending, and his children become a blessing. |
| 27 Depart from evil, and do good; so shall you abide for ever. |
| 28 For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. |
| 29 The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell upon it for ever. |
| 30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. |
| 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. |
| 32 The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him. |
| 33 The LORD will not abandon him to his power, or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. |
| 34 Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to possess the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked. |
| 35 I have seen a wicked man overbearing, and towering like a cedar of Lebanon. |
| 36 Again I passed by, and, lo, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. |
| 37 Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the man of peace. |
| 38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off. |
| 39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. |
| 40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him. |
