Psalms Chapter 37

A Psalm of David

¹ Don’t worry about bad people

            or envy those who do wrong;

         ²they’ll wither like grass

            and fade like flowers.

³ Trust in the LORD and do good

      so you can live in the land and enjoy security.

⁴ Delight in the LORD,

      and he’ll give you what your heart desires.

⁵ Commit your way to him and trust him,

      and he’ll act on your behalf.

⁶ He’ll bring forth your goodness like the dawn

      and your vindication like the midday sun.

Ps 37:1-6

⁷ Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for him;

      don’t worry about people that prosper

            by carrying out dishonest schemes.

⁸ Stop being mad at them; set anger aside;

         don’t concern yourself with them;

      that only leads to your own sinning.

⁹ They’ll be destroyed,

      but those who depend on the LORD will inherit the land.

¹⁰ Sinners will soon be gone;

      you can look all over for them,

      but they won’t be there.

¹¹ It’s the humble that inherit the land

         and delight in abundant prosperity.

Ps 37:7-11

¹² Bad people plot against the good

      and gnash their teeth at them.

¹³ But the LORD laughs at them

      because he sees what’s going to happen to them.

¹⁴ Sinners draw the sword and bend the bow

                  to bring down the poor and needy

                  and slay the godly;

         ¹⁵but their sword will pierce their own heart,

            and their bow will break.

Ps 37:12-15

¹⁶ The little that good people have is better

            than the abundance sinners possess,

         ¹⁷because the LORD will break the arms of sinners

            and sustain the good.

¹⁸ He knows the time of the blameless;                                  

         their inheritance lasts forever.

¹⁹ They aren’t discouraged in hard times

      and have plenty during famine.

²⁰ But the sinful perish;

      the LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a pasture;

      they dissipate like smoke.

²¹ The wicked borrow and don’t repay,

      but the good are generous and give.

²² Those he blesses will inherit the land;

         the ones he curses will die.

Ps 37:16-22

²³ The LORD guides the steps of the godly

      and delights in their lives.

²⁴ If they fall, they won’t fall headlong

      because the LORD will hold their hand.

²⁵ I was young once; now I’m old;

      yet I’ve not seen good people abandoned

            or their children beg for bread.

²⁶ They’re gracious and generous;

      their descendants are a blessing.

²⁷ Quit doing bad things and do good

      so you’ll live forever.

Ps 37:23-27

²⁸ The LORD loves justice

            and doesn’t abandon his holy people;

      he keeps them forever,

            but cuts off the descendants of the wicked.

²⁹ The godly will inherit the land

      and live there permanently.

³⁰ The godly utter wisdom and speak justice.

³¹ The Law of their God is in their heart;

      their feet don’t slip.

³² Sinners spy on them                                                           

      and try to kill them.

³³ The LORD won’t abandon the godly to their power

      or let them be condemned when they’re judged.

³⁴ Wait for the LORD and keep his way,

            and he’ll raise you up to inherit the land;

      you’ll see the wicked destroyed.

Ps 37:28-34

³⁵ I’ve seen a violent, wicked people spread themselves out

         like tall trees in their native soil.

³⁶ Then they passed away and were gone;

      I looked for them, but they were nowhere to be found.

³⁷ Take note of blameless, watch the godly

            because peaceful people prosper;

         ³⁸but sinners will be destroyed

            along with their future.

³⁹ The salvation of the godly comes from the LORD,

      their refuge when trouble comes.

⁴⁰ The LORD helps them and delivers them,

      protects them from sinners and saves them

      because they take refuge in him.

Ps 37:35-40