37:1 FRET NOT yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God). |
37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. |
37:3 Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, {and} truly you shall be fed. |
37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires {and} secret petitions of your heart. |
37:5 Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. |
37:6 And He will make your uprightness {and} right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice {and} right as [the shining sun of] the noonday. |
37:7 Be still {and} rest in the Lord; wait for Him {and} patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. |
37:8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself--it tends only to evildoing. |
37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait {and} hope {and} look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth. |
37:10 For yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found. |
37:11 But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. |
37:12 The wicked plot against the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright in right standing with God); they gnash at them with their teeth. |
37:13 The Lord laughs at [the wicked], for He sees that their own day [of defeat] is coming. |
37:14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly (blameless in conduct and in conversation). |
37:15 The swords [of the wicked] shall enter their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken. |
37:16 Better is the little that the [uncompromisingly] righteous have than the abundance [of possessions] of many who are wrong {and} wicked. |
37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the [consistently] righteous. |
37:18 The Lord knows the days of the upright {and} blameless, and their heritage will abide forever. |
37:19 They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. |
37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke] {and} as the glory of the pastures. They shall vanish; like smoke shall they consume away. |
37:21 The wicked borrow and pay not again [for they may be unable], but the [uncompromisingly] righteous deal kindly and give [for they are able]. |
37:22 For such as are blessed of God shall [in the end] inherit the earth, but they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off. |
37:23 The steps of a [good] man are directed {and} established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. |
37:24 Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support {and} upholds him. |
37:25 I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread. |
37:26 All day long they are merciful {and} deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed. |
37:27 Depart from evil and do good; and you will dwell forever [securely]. |
37:28 For the Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked [in time] shall be cut off. |
37:29 [Then] the [consistently] righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. |
37:30 The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks with justice. |
37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. |
37:32 The wicked lie in wait for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and seek to put them to death. |
37:33 The Lord will not leave them in their hands, or [suffer them to] condemn them when they are judged. |
37:34 Wait for {and} expect the Lord and keep {and} heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; [in the end] when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. |
37:35 I have seen a wicked man in great power and spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil, |
37:36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was not; yes, I sought {and} inquired for him, but he could not be found. |
37:37 Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a happy end for the man of peace. |
37:38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; in the end the wicked shall be cut off. |
37:39 But the salvation of the [consistently] righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge {and} secure Stronghold in the time of trouble. |
37:40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they trust {and} take refuge in Him. |