Psalm

37 Do not be upset* because of evil men

Or envious of wrongdoers.+

 2 They will quickly wither like grass+

And shrivel like green new grass.

 3 Trust in Jehovah and do what is good;+

Reside in the earth,* and act with faithfulness.+

 4 Find exquisite delight* in Jehovah,

And he will grant you the desires of your heart.

 5 Commit your way to* Jehovah;+

Rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.+

 6 He will make your righteousness shine like daybreak,

And your justice like the midday sun.

 7 Keep silent before Jehovah+

And wait expectantly* for him.

Do not be upset by the man

Who succeeds in carrying out his schemes.+

 8 Let go of anger and abandon rage;+

Do not become upset and turn to doing evil.*

 9 For evil men will be done away with,+

But those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth.+

10 Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more;+

You will look at where they were,

And they will not be there.+

11 But the meek will possess the earth,+

And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.+

12 The wicked man plots against the righteous;+

He grinds his teeth at him.

13 But Jehovah will laugh at him,

For He knows that his day will come.+

14 The wicked draw their swords and bend* their bows

To bring down the oppressed and the poor,

To slaughter those whose way is upright.

15 But their sword will pierce their own heart;+

Their bows will be broken.

16 Better is the little of the righteous one

Than the abundance of many wicked ones.+

17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,

But Jehovah will support the righteous.

18 Jehovah is aware of what the blameless go through,*

And their inheritance will last forever.+

19 They will not be put to shame in the time of disaster;

In the time of famine they will have plenty.

20 But the wicked will perish;+

The enemies of Jehovah will vanish like glorious pastures;

They will vanish like smoke.

21 The wicked one borrows and does not repay,

But the righteous one is generous* and giving.+

22 Those blessed by Him will possess the earth,

But those cursed by Him will be done away with.+

23 Jehovah guides* the steps of a man+

When He finds pleasure in his way.+

24 Although he may fall, he will not be hurled down,+

For Jehovah supports him by the hand.*+

25 I was once young and now I am old,

But I have not seen anyone righteous abandoned,+

Nor his children looking for bread.*+

26 He always lends freely,+

And his children are in line for a blessing.

27 Turn away from bad and do what is good,+

And you will remain forever.

28 For Jehovah loves justice,

And he will not abandon his loyal ones.+

They will always be guarded;+

But the descendants of the wicked will be done away with.+

29 The righteous will possess the earth,+

And they will live forever on it.+

30 The mouth of the righteous one imparts wisdom,*

And his tongue speaks about justice.+

31 The law of his God is in his heart;+

His steps will not falter.+

32 The wicked watches the righteous,

Seeking to put him to death.

33 But Jehovah will not abandon him to the hand of that one+

Or find him guilty when he is judged.+

34 Hope in Jehovah and follow his way,

And he will exalt you to take possession of the earth.

35 I have seen the ruthless, evil man

Spreading out like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.+

36 But he suddenly passed away and was gone;+

I kept searching for him, and he could not be found.+

37 Take note of the blameless one,*

And keep the upright one+ in sight,

For the future of that man will be peaceful.+

38 But all the transgressors will be destroyed;

The future of wicked people will be cut off.+

39 The salvation of the righteous is from Jehovah;+

He is their fortress in the time of distress.+

He will rescue them from the wicked and save them,

Because they take refuge in him.+