Psalms

The first book of Psalms, song 37, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 37

New English Translation

By David.

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

King James Version

A Psalm of David.

   1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
   2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
   3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
   4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
   5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
   6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
   7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
   8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
   9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
   10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
   11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
   12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
   13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
   14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
   15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
   16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
   17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
   18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
   19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
   20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
   21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
   22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
   23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
   24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
   25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
   26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
   27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
   28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
   29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
   30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
   31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
   32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
   33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
   34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
   35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
   36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
   37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
   38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
   39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
   40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.