Psalm 37

Of David.

1Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be jealous of those who act unjustly.

2For like grass they will soon dry up, and like fresh green plants they will wilt.

3Trust in Yahweh and do good; make your home in the land and feed on faithfulness.

4Find your delight in Yahweh, and he will grant you the requests of your heart.

5Entrust your path to Yahweh; trust in him, and he himself will act.

6He will bring your righteousness out into the open like light, and your justice like the blaze of midday.

7Be silent before Yahweh and wait expectantly for him; do not fret over the one whose way succeeds, the one who carries out his wicked schemes.

8Put anger aside and give up fury; do not fret—it only brings you to wrongdoing.

9For evildoers will be cut off, while those who wait for Yahweh are the ones who will inherit the land.

10A little longer, and the wicked will be gone; you will look closely at his place, and he will not be there.

11But the humble will inherit the land and revel in overflowing peace.

12The wicked man schemes against the one who is righteous and grinds his teeth at him,

13but the Lord laughs at him, because he has seen that his day is on its way.

14The wicked have unsheathed the sword and readied their bows to fell the poor and the needy, to slaughter those whose path is straight.

15Their own sword will enter their hearts, and their bows will be shattered.

16The small amount a righteous person has is better than the riches of many who are wicked.

17For the wicked will have their arms broken, but Yahweh supports the righteous.

18Yahweh knows each day of the blameless, and their inheritance will stand forever.

19When hard times come, they will not be disgraced; when famine comes, they will have enough to eat.

20But the wicked will perish; Yahweh’s enemies are like the splendor of the meadows: they are gone; like smoke they are gone.

21The wicked person borrows and fails to repay, while the righteous person is gracious and gives.

22For those blessed by him will inherit the land, and those under his curse will be cut off.

23It is Yahweh who makes a person’s steps secure, and he takes pleasure in his way.

24Even if he falls, he will not be flung down, because Yahweh is holding him by the hand.

25I was once young, and I have now grown old, but I have not seen a righteous person deserted, or his offspring searching for bread.

26All day long he is gracious and lends, and his offspring turn out to be a blessing.

27Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell forever.

28For Yahweh loves justice and will never desert his faithful ones. They are guarded forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

29The righteous will inherit the land and live on it for all time.

30A righteous person’s mouth murmurs wisdom, and his tongue tells what is just.

31His God’s law is in his heart; his steps will not falter.

32The wicked man spies on the righteous, looking for a way to kill him.

33Yahweh will not leave him in his grasp or allow him to be declared guilty when he stands trial.

34Wait for Yahweh and stay on his path, and he will raise you up to inherit the land; you will watch as the wicked are cut off.

35I once saw a wicked man, a tyrant, spreading out like a lush tree growing in its home soil.

36Yet he passed on, and all at once he was gone; I went looking for him, and he was nowhere to be found.

37Keep your eye on the blameless and look at the upright, for the person of peace has a future.

38But rebels will be destroyed one and all; the wicked will have their future cut off.

39Salvation for the righteous comes from Yahweh; he is their fortress when distress comes.

40Yahweh helps them and sets them free; he sets them free from the wicked and saves them, for they have taken shelter in him.