Psalm 37

The Destiny of the Wicked and of the Good#HEBREW TITLE: By David.

1Don't be worried on account of the wicked;

don't be jealous of those who do wrong.

2They will soon disappear like grass that dries up;

they will die like plants that wither.

3Trust in the Lord and do good;

live in the land and be safe.

4Seek your happiness in the Lord,

and he will give you your heart's desire.

5Give yourself to the Lord;

trust in him, and he will help you;

6he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.

7Be patient and wait for the Lord to act;

don't be worried about those who prosper

or those who succeed in their evil plans.

8Don't give in to worry or anger;

it only leads to trouble.

9Those who trust in the Lord will possess the land,

but the wicked will be driven out.

10Soon the wicked will disappear;

you may look for them, but you won't find them;

11 # Mt 5.5 but the humble will possess the land

and enjoy prosperity and peace.

12The wicked plot against good people

and glare at them with hate.

13But the Lord laughs at wicked people,

because he knows they will soon be destroyed.

14The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows

to kill the poor and needy,

to slaughter those who do what is right;

15but they will be killed by their own swords,

and their bows will be smashed.

16The little that a good person owns

is worth more than the wealth of all the wicked,

17because the Lord will take away the strength of the wicked,

but protect those who are good.

18The Lord takes care of those who obey him,

and the land will be theirs forever.

19They will not suffer when times are bad;

they will have enough in time of famine.

20But the wicked will die;

the enemies of the Lord will vanish like wild flowers;

they will disappear like smoke.

21The wicked borrow and never pay back,

but good people are generous with their gifts.

22Those who are blessed by the Lord will possess the land,

but those who are cursed by him will be driven out.

23The Lord guides us in the way we should go

and protects those who please him.

24If they fall, they will not stay down,

because the Lord will help them up.

25I am old now; I have lived a long time,

but I have never seen good people abandoned by the Lord

or their children begging for food.

26At all times they give freely and lend to others,

and their children are a blessing.

27Turn away from evil and do good,

and your descendants will always live in the land;

28for the Lord loves what is right

and does not abandon his faithful people.

He protects them forever,

but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out.

29The righteous will possess the land

and live in it forever.

30The words of good people are wise,

and they are always fair.

31They keep the law of their God in their hearts

and never depart from it.

32Wicked people watch good people

and try to kill them;

33but the Lord will not abandon them to their enemy's power

or let them be condemned when they are on trial.

34Put your hope in the Lord and obey his commands;

he will honor you by giving you the land,

and you will see the wicked driven out.

35I once knew someone wicked who was a tyrant;

he towered over everyone like a cedar of Lebanon;#37.35: One ancient translation like a cedar of Lebanon; Hebrew unclear.

36but later I#37.36: Some ancient translations I; Hebrew he. passed by, and he wasn't there;

I looked for him, but couldn't find him.

37Notice good people, observe the righteous;

peaceful people have descendants,

38but sinners are completely destroyed,

and their descendants are wiped out.

39The Lord saves the righteous

and protects them in times of trouble.

40He helps them and rescues them;

he saves them from the wicked,

because they go to him for protection.

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Psalms 37

(By David.)

Trust the Lord

1Don't be annoyed by anyone

who does wrong,

and don't envy them.

2They will soon disappear

like grass without rain.

3Trust the Lord and live right!

The land will be yours,

and you will be safe.

4Do what the Lord wants,

and he will give you

your heart's desire.

5Let the Lord lead you

and trust him to help.

6Then it will be as clear

as the noonday sun

that you were right.

7Be patient and trust the Lord.

Don't let it bother you

when all goes well for those

who do sinful things.

8Don't be angry or furious.

Anger can lead to sin.

9All sinners will disappear,

but if you trust the Lord,

the land will be yours.

10Sinners will soon disappear,

never to be found,

11 # Mt 5.5. but the poor will take the land

and enjoy a big harvest.

12Merciless people make plots

against good people

and snarl like animals,

13but the Lord laughs and knows

their time is coming soon.

14The wicked kill with swords

and shoot arrows to murder

the poor and the needy

and all who do right.

15But they will be killed

by their own swords,

and their arrows

will be broken.

16It is better to live right

and be poor

than to be sinful and rich.

17The wicked will lose all

of their power,

but the Lord gives strength

to everyone who is good.

18Those who obey the Lord

are daily in his care,

and what he has given them

will be theirs forever.

19They won't be in trouble

when times are bad,

and they will have plenty

when food is scarce.

20Wicked people are enemies

of the Lord

and will vanish like smoke

from a field on fire.

21An evil person borrows

and never pays back;

a good person is generous

and never stops giving.

22Everyone the Lord blesses

will receive the land;

everyone the Lord curses

will be destroyed.

23If you do what the Lord wants,

he will make certain

each step you take is sure.

24The Lord will hold your hand,

and if you stumble,

you still won't fall.

25As long as I can remember,

good people have never

been left helpless,

and their children have never

gone begging for food.

26They gladly give and lend,

and their children

turn out good.

27If you stop sinning

and start doing right,

you will keep living

and be secure forever.

28The Lord loves justice,

and he won't ever desert

his faithful people.

He always protects them,

but destroys the children

of the wicked.

29God's people will own the land

and live here forever.

30Words of wisdom come

when good people speak

for justice.

31They remember God's teachings,

and they never take

a wrong step.

32The wicked try to trap

and kill good people,

33but the Lord is on their side,

and he will defend them

when they are on trial.

34Trust the Lord and follow him.

He will give you the land,

and you will see

the wicked destroyed.

35I have seen brutal people

abuse others and grow strong

like trees in rich soil.#37.35 like … soil: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

36Suddenly they disappeared!

I looked, but they were gone

and no longer there.

37Think of the bright future

waiting for all the families

of honest, innocent,

and peace-loving people.

38But not a trace will be left

of the wicked

or their families.

39The Lord protects his people,

and they can come to him

in times of trouble.

40The Lord helps his people

and saves them from the wicked

because they run to him.

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