Psalm 37-39

Psalm 37This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. 1Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;

2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD ; trust in him and he will do this:

6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;

17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18The blameless spend their days under the LORD ’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD ’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.

23The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

24though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed

27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

28For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever ; the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.

31The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.

32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;

33but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity

38But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future Or posterity for the wicked.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD ; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Psalm 38In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23. 1A psalm of David. A petition. LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

2Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me.

3Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.

4My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.

5My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.

6I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.

7My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.

8I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

9All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

10My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

11My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.

12Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.

13I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak;

14I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.

15LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.

16For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

17For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

18I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

19Many have become my enemies without cause One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies ; those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good.

21LORD, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. 22Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.

Psalm 39In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14. 1For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”

2So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased;

3my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

4“Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

5You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

6“Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.

7“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

8Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.

9I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.

10Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath.

12“Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were. 13Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.”