Psalm 37 | King James Version

King James Version

1 A Psalm of David. 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.

New International Reader’s Version

A psalm of David.

1 Don’t be upset because of sinful people. Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong. 2 Like grass, they will soon dry up. Like green plants, they will soon die. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food. 4 Find your delight in the LORD. Then he will give you everything your heart really wants. 5 Commit your life to the LORD. Here is what he will do if you trust in him. 6 He will make the reward for your godly life shine like the dawn. He will make the proof of your honest life shine like the sun at noon. 7 Be still and wait patiently for the LORD to act. Don’t be upset when other people succeed. Don’t be upset when they carry out their evil plans. 8 Turn away from anger and don’t give in to wrath. Don’t be upset, because that only leads to evil. 9 Sinful people will be destroyed. But those who put their hope in the LORD will receive the land. 10 In a little while, there won’t be any more sinners. Even if you look for them, you won’t be able to find them. 11 But those who are free of pride will be given the land. They will enjoy peace and success. 12 Sinful people make plans to harm those who do what is right. They grind their teeth at them. 13 But the Lord laughs at those who do evil. He knows the day is coming when he will judge them. 14 Sinners pull out their swords. They bend their bows. They want to kill poor and needy people. They plan to murder those who lead honest lives. 15 But they will be killed by their own swords. Their own bows will be broken. 16 Those who do what is right may have very little. But it’s better than the wealth of many sinners. 17 The power of those who are evil will be broken. But the LORD takes good care of those who do what is right. 18 Those who are without blame spend their days in the LORD’s care. What he has given them will last for ever. 19 When trouble comes to them, they will have what they need. When there is little food in the land, they will still have plenty. 20 But sinful people will die. The LORD’s enemies may be like flowers in the field. But they will be swallowed up. They will disappear like smoke. 21 Sinful people borrow and don’t pay back. But those who are godly give freely to others. 22 The LORD will give the land to those he blesses. But he will destroy those he curses. 23 The LORD makes secure the footsteps of the person who delights in him, 24 Even if that person trips, he won’t fall. The LORD’s hand takes good care of him. 25 I once was young, and now I’m old. But I’ve never seen godly people deserted. I’ve never seen their children begging for bread. 26 The godly are always giving and lending freely. Their children will be a blessing. 27 Turn away from evil and do good. Then you will live in the land for ever. 28 The LORD loves those who are honest. He will not desert those who are faithful to him. Those who do wrong will be completely destroyed. The children of sinners will die. 29 Those who do what is right will be given the land. They will live in it for ever. 30 The mouths of those who do what is right speak words of wisdom. They say what is honest. 31 God’s law is in their hearts. Their feet do not slip. 32 Those who are evil hide and wait for godly people. They want to kill them. 33 But the LORD will not leave the godly in their power. He will not let them be found guilty when they are brought into court. 34 Put your hope in the LORD. Live as he wants you to. He will honour you by giving you the land. When sinners are destroyed, you will see it. 35 I saw a mean and sinful person. He was doing well, like a green tree in its own land. 36 But he soon passed away and was gone. Even though I looked for him, I couldn’t find him. 37 Consider honest people who are without blame. People who seek peace will have a tomorrow. 38 But all sinners will be destroyed. Those who are evil won’t have a tomorrow. 39 The LORD saves those who do what is right. He is their place of safety when trouble comes. 40 The LORD helps them and saves them. He saves them from sinful people because they go to him for safety.