NET Bible

Psalm 37

^37:1 Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed. Do not envy evildoers. ^37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants. ^37:3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right. Settle in the land and maintain your integrity. ^37:4 Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers. ^37:5 Commit your future to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. ^37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause. ^37:7 Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes. ^37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not fret. That only leads to trouble. ^37:9 Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land. ^37:10 Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone. ^37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity. ^37:12 Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them. ^37:13 The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming. ^37:14 Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly. ^37:15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. ^37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men, ^37:17 for evil men will lose their power, but the Lord sustains the godly. ^37:18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day, and they possess a permanent inheritance. ^37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat. ^37:20 But evil men will die; the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated — they will go up in smoke. ^37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous. ^37:22 Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out. ^37:23 The Lord grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable. ^37:24 Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand. ^37:25 I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen the godly abandoned, or their children forced to search for food. ^37:26 All day long they show compassion and lend to others, and their children are blessed. ^37:27 Turn away from evil. Do what is right. Then you will enjoy lasting security. ^37:28 For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of the wicked are wiped out. ^37:29 The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently. ^37:30 The godly speak wise words and promote justice. ^37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip. ^37:32 The wicked set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them. ^37:33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law. ^37:34 Rely on the Lord. Obey his commands. Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of the wicked. ^37:35 I have seen ruthless, wicked people growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. ^37:36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared. I looked for them, but they could not be found. ^37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity. Observe the upright. For the one who promotes peace has a future. ^37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; the wicked have no future. ^37:39 But the Lord delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble. ^37:40 The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked and delivers them, for they seek his protection.

^37:40 A psalm of David, written to get God’s attention.