Psalm 37

¹ A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.

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; dwell in the land, and follow after faithfulness.

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 Add he shall make thy righteousness to go forth 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, it tendeth only to evil-doing.

⁹ For evil-doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the land.

¹⁰ For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.

¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land; 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, to slay such as be upright in the way:

¹⁵ Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

¹⁶ Better is a little that the righteous hath than the abundance 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 perfect: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the time of evil: 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 excellency of the pastures: they shall consume; in smoke shall they consume away.

²¹ The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.

²² For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the land; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

²³ A man’s goings are established of 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 their bread.

²⁶ All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; 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 talketh of wisdom, and his tongue speaketh 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 tree in its native soil.

³⁶ But one passed by, 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 latter end of that man is peace.

³⁸ As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together: the latter end of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strong hold in the time of trouble.

⁴⁰ And the LORD helpeth them, and rescueth them: he rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, because they have taken refuge in him.