37:1  A Psalm of David. Fret not yourself because of the wicked, be not envious of wrongdoers!

37:2  For they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.

37:4  Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

37:5  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

37:6  He will bring forth your vindication as the light, and your right as the noonday.

37:7  Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over him who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

37:8  Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

37:9  For the wicked shall be cut off; but those who wait for the LORD shall possess the land.

37:10  Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look well at his place, he will not be there.

37:11  But the meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

37:12  The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him;

37:13  but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

37:14  The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows, to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly;

37:15  their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

37:16  Better is a little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.

37:17  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; but the LORD upholds the righteous.

37:18  The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide for ever;

37:19  they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance.

37:20  But the wicked perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures, they vanish--like smoke they vanish away.

37:21  The wicked borrows, and cannot pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

37:22  for those blessed by the LORD shall possess the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

37:23  The steps of a man are from the LORD, and he establishes him in whose way he delights;

37:24  though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD is the stay of his hand.

37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging bread.

37:26  He is ever giving liberally and lending, and his children become a blessing.

37:27  Depart from evil, and do good; so shall you abide for ever.

37:28  For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

37:29  The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell upon it for ever.

37:30  The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

37:31  The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

37:32  The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him.

37:33  The LORD will not abandon him to his power, or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

37:34  Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to possess the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked.

37:35  I have seen a wicked man overbearing, and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.

37:36  Again I passed by, and, lo, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

37:37  Mark the blameless man, and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the man of peace.

37:38  But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.

37:39  The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.

37:40  The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked, and saves them, because