Psalm 37

A Psalm of David.

1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.footnote a

4Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.footnote b

6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7Rest 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.footnote c

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.footnote d

13The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

14The 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.footnote e

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

16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20But 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.footnote f

21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

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

24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

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

26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.footnote h

27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.footnote i

32The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34Wait 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.

35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.footnote j

36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

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

Delight Yourself in the LORD

Of David.

1Do not fret over those who do evil;do not envy those who do wrong. 2For they wither quickly like grassand wilt like tender plants.

3Trust in the LORD and do good;dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the LORD,and He will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD;trust in Him, and He will do it. 6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn,your justice like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the LORDand wait patiently for Him;do not fret when men prosper in their ways,when they carry out wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath;do not fret—it can only bring harm. 9For the evildoers will be cut off,but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;though you look for them, they will not be found. 11But the meek will inherit the landfootnote aand delight in abundant prosperity.

12The wicked scheme against the righteousand gnash their teeth at them, 13but the Lord laughs,seeing that their day is coming.

14The wicked have drawn the swordand bent the bowto bring down the poor and needy,to slay those whose ways are upright. 15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,and their bows will be broken.

16Better is the little of the righteousthan the abundance of many who are wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked will be broken,but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18The LORD knows the days of the blameless,and their inheritance will last forever. 19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed,and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

20But the wicked and enemies of the LORDwill perish like the glory of the fields.They will vanish;like smoke they will fade away.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay,but the righteous are gracious and giving. 22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land,but the cursed will be destroyed.

23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORDwho takes delight in his journey. 24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,for the LORD is holding his hand.footnote b

25I once was young and now am old,yet never have I seen the righteous abandonedor their children begging for bread. 26They are ever generous and quick to lend,and their children are a blessing.

27Turn away from evil and do good,so that you will abide forever. 28For the LORD loves justiceand will not forsake His saints.They are preserved forever,but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. 29The righteous will inherit the landand dwell in it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,and his tongue speaks justice. 31The law of his God is in his heart;his steps do not falter.

32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous,and seek to slay them, 33the LORD will not leave them in their poweror let them be condemned under judgment.

34Wait for the LORD and keep His way,and He will raise you up to inherit the land.When the wicked are cut off,you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked, ruthless manflourishing like a well-rooted native tree, 36yet he passed away and was no more;though I searched, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless and observe the upright,for posterity awaits the man of peace.footnote c 38But the transgressors will all be destroyed;the future of the wicked will be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;He is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40The LORD helps and delivers them;He rescues and saves them from the wicked,because they take refuge in Him.