Psalms 37
37
A Song of Wisdom
Poetic praise by King David # 37 Psalm 37 is an acrostic psalm, in which every other verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
1Don’t follow after the wicked ones or be jealous of their wealth.
Don’t think for a moment they’re better off than you.
2They and their short-lived success
will soon shrivel up and quickly fade away,
like grass clippings in the hot sun.
3Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes.
Fix your heart on the promises of God, and you will dwell in the land,
feasting on his faithfulness.
4Find your delight # 37:4 The word delight means “to be soft or tender.” and true pleasure in Yahweh,
and he will give you what you desire the most.
5Give # 37:5 The Hebrew word used here can be translated “commit,” which means “to roll over your burdens on the Lord.” God the right to direct your life,
and as you trust him along the way,
you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!
6He will appear # 37:6 The Hebrew verb found here is also used for giving birth. Perhaps this is a reference to the birth of Christ, our righteousness. as your righteousness,
as sure as the dawning of a new day.
He will manifest as your justice,
as sure and strong as the noonday sun.
7Quiet your heart in his presence
and wait # 37:7 The root word of the word for “wait” can mean “to whirl” or “to be in labor [give birth].” What an unusual concept for waiting on God. We may feel like we’re being whirled around by our circumstances, but in the end, our season of waiting gives birth to greater things. patiently for Yahweh.
And don’t think for a moment that the wicked, in their prosperity,
are better off than you.
8Stay away from anger and revenge.
Keep envy far from you, for it only leads you into lies.
9For one day the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord
will inherit the land.
10Just a little while longer and the ungodly will vanish;
you will look for them in vain.
11But the humble of heart will inherit every promise # 37:11 See Matt. 5:5.
and enjoy abundant peace.
12Let the wicked keep plotting against the godly
with all their sneers and arrogant jeers.
13God laughs at the wicked and their plans,
for he knows their day is coming!
14Evil ones take aim at the poor and helpless;
they are ready to slaughter those who do right.
15But the Lord will turn all their weapons of wickedness back on themselves,
piercing their pride-filled hearts until they are helpless.
16It is much better to have little
combined with much of God
than to have the fabulous wealth of the wicked and nothing else.
17For the Lord takes care of all his forgiven ones
while the strength of evil men will surely slip away.
18Day by day the Lord watches the good deeds of the godly,
and he prepares for them his forever-reward.
19Even in a time of disaster he will watch over them,
and they will always have more than enough
no matter what happens.
20All the enemies of God will perish.
For the wicked have only a momentary value, a fading glory.
Then one day they vanish! Here today, gone tomorrow.
21They break their promises, borrowing money
but never paying it back.
The good man returns what he owes with some extra besides.
22Yahweh’s blessed ones receive the land,
but the cursed ones will be cut off
with nothing to show for themselves.
23When Yahweh delights in how you live your life,
he establishes your every step.
24If they stumble badly they will still survive,
for the Lord lifts them up with his hands.
25I was once inexperienced, # 37:25 Or “immature.” The Hebrew word na’ar has a homonym that means “to be driven out,” which may be a reference to David being driven out of Jerusalem by Absalom. but now I’m old.
Not once have I found a lover of God forsaken by him,
nor have any of their children gone hungry.
26Instead, I’ve found the godly ones
to be the generous ones who give freely to others.
Their children are blessed and become a blessing.
27If you truly want to dwell forever in God’s presence,
forsake evil and do what is right in his eyes.
28The Lord loves it when he sees us walking in his justice.
He will never desert his devoted lovers;
they will be kept forever in his faithful care,
but the descendants of the wicked will be banished.
29The faithful lovers of God will inherit the earth
and enjoy every promise of God’s care,
dwelling in peace forever.
30God-lovers make the best counselors.
Their words possess wisdom and are right and trustworthy.
31The ways of God are in their hearts
and they won’t swerve from the paths of steadfast righteousness.
32Evil ones spy on the godly ones, stalking them
to find something they could use to accuse them.
They’re out for the kill!
33But God will foil all their plots.
The godly will not stand condemned when brought to trial.
34So don’t be impatient for Yahweh to act;
keep moving forward steadily in his ways,
and he will exalt you to possess the land.
You’ll watch with your own eyes
and see the wicked lose everything.
35I’ve already seen this happen.
Once I saw a wicked and violent man
overpower all who were around him,
a domineering tyrant with his prideful and oppressive ways.
36Then he died and was forgotten.
Now no one cares that he is gone forever.
37But you can tell who are the blameless and spiritually mature.
What a different story with them!
The godly ones will have a peaceful, prosperous future
with a happy ending.
38Every evil sinner will be destroyed, obliterated.
They’ll be utter failures with no future!
39But the Lord will be the Savior of all who love him.
Even in their time of trouble, God will live in them as strength.
40Because of their faith in him, their daily portion will be
a Father’s help and deliverance from evil.
This is true for all who turn to hide themselves in him!
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Psalms 37: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationTehillim (Psalms) 37
37
1Aleph Do not fret because of evil-doers, Do not be envious of the workers of unrighteousness.
2For they soon wither like grass, And fade like green plants.
3Bĕt Trust in יהוה, and do good; Dwell in the earth, and feed on steadfastness.
4And delight yourself in יהוה, And let Him give you the desires of your heart.
5Gimel Commit your way to יהוה, And trust in Him, and He does it.
6And He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your right-ruling as midday.
7Dalet Rest in יהוה, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man doing wicked devices.
8Hĕ Abstain from displeasure, and forsake wrath; Do not fret, also to do evil.
9For evil-doers are cut off; But those who wait on יהוה, They shall inherit the earth.#See also Psa. 37:11; Psa. 37:22; Psa. 37:29; Psa. 37:34 and Mat. 5:5
10Waw Yet a little while and the wrong is no more; And you shall look on his place, But it is not.
11But the meek ones shall inherit the earth, And delight themselves in plenty of peace.
12Zayin The wrong plots against the righteous, And gnashes his teeth at him.
13יהוה laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.
14Ḥet The wrong have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cause the poor and needy to fall, To slay those who walk straightly.
15Their sword does enter into their own heart, And their bows are broken.
16Tet Better is the little of the righteous one, Than the riches of many wrongdoers.
17For the arms of the wrongdoers are broken, But יהוה sustains the righteous.
18Yod יהוה knows the days of the perfect, And their inheritance is forever.
19They are not ashamed in a time of evil, And in the days of scarcity of food they are satisfied.
20Kaph But the wrongdoers shall perish; And the enemies of יהוה, Like the splendour of the meadows they vanish, Like smoke they vanish away.
21Lamed The wrongdoer is borrowing and does not repay, But the righteous one shows favour and gives.
22For His blessed ones inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him are cut off.
23Mem The steps of a man are ordered by יהוה, And He delights in his way.
24Though he falls, he is not cast down, For יהוה is supporting his hand.
25Nun I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Or his seed begging bread.
26All day long he is showing favour and lending; And his seed is for a blessing.
27Sameḵ Turn away from evil, and do good; And dwell forever.
28For יהוה loves right-ruling, And does not forsake His lovingly-committed ones; They shall be guarded forever, But the seed of the wrongdoers is cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the earth, And dwell in it forever.
30Pĕ The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of right-ruling.
31The Torah of his Elohim is in his heart;#See Deu. 6:6; Psa. 40:8; Psa. 119:11; Isa. 51:7 His steps do not slide.
32Tsadi The wrong one is watching for the righteous, And is seeking to slay him.
33יהוה does not leave him in his hand, Or let him be declared wrong when he is judged.
34Qoph Wait on יהוה and guard His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the earth – When the wrongdoers are cut off, you shall see it.
35Rĕsh I have seen the wrongdoer in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36Yet he passed away, and see, he was not; And I sought him, but he was not found.
37Shin Watch the perfect, and observe the straight; For the latter end of each is peace.
38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The latter end of the wrong shall be cut off.
39Taw But the deliverance of the righteous is from יהוה, Their strength in time of distress.
40And יהוה does help them and deliver them; He delivers them from the wrongdoers and saves them, Because they took refuge in Him.
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