Psalm 37

Security Of Those Who Trust In The LORD, And Insecurity Of The Wicked.

A Psalm of David. 1Do not worry because of evildoers,
Nor be envious toward wrongdoers; 2For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And fade like the green herb. 3Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the LORD,
And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD;
Trust in Him also and He will do it. 6He will make your righteousness [your pursuit of right standing with God] like the light,
And your judgment like [the shining of] the noonday [sun]. 7Be still before the LORD; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him;
Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 8Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evil. 9For those who do evil will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. 10For yet a little while and the wicked one will be gone [forever];
Though you look carefully where he used to be, he will not be [found]. 11But the humble will [at last] inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity and peace. 12The wicked plots against the righteous
And gnashes at him with his teeth. 13The Lord laughs at him [the wicked one—the one who oppresses the righteous],
For He sees that his day [of defeat] is coming. 14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow
To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
To slaughter those who are upright in conduct [those with personal integrity and godly character]. 15The sword [of the ungodly] will enter their own heart,
And their bow will be broken. 16Better is the little of the righteous [who seek the will of God]
Than the abundance (riches) of many wicked (godless). 17For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But the LORD upholds and sustains the righteous [who seek Him]. 18The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
And their inheritance will continue forever. 19They will not be ashamed in the time of evil,
And in the days of famine they will have plenty and be satisfied. 20But the wicked (ungodly) will perish,
And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures and like the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke],
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 21The wicked borrows and does not pay back,
But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives. 22For those blessed by God will [at last] inherit the land,
But those cursed by Him will be cut off. 23The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. 24When he falls, he will not be hurled down,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand and sustains him. 25I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous (those in right standing with God) abandoned
Or his descendants pleading for bread. 26All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his descendants are a blessing. 27Depart from evil and do good;
And you will dwell [securely in the land] forever. 28For the LORD delights in justice
And does not abandon His saints (faithful ones);
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will [in time] be cut off. 29The righteous will inherit the land
And live in it forever. 30The mouth of the righteous proclaims wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice and truth. 31The law of his God is in his heart;
Not one of his steps will slip. 32The wicked lies in wait for the righteous
And seeks to kill him. 33The LORD will not leave him in his hand
Or let him be condemned when he is judged. 34Wait for and expect the LORD and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
[In the end] when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. 35I have seen a wicked, violent man [with great power]
Spreading and flaunting himself like a cedar in its native soil, 36Yet he passed away, and lo, he was no more;
I sought him, but he could not be found. 37Mark the blameless man [who is spiritually complete], and behold the upright [who walks in moral integrity];
There is a [good] future for the man of peace [because a life of honor blesses one’s descendants]. 38As for transgressors, they will be completely destroyed;
The future of the wicked will be cut off. 39But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their refuge and stronghold in the time of trouble. 40The LORD helps them and rescues them;
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.