Psalm 37Instruction in Wisdom

1. Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.

2. For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.

3. Trust in 
the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely.

4. Take delight in 
the Lord,
and he will give you your heart's desires.


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

6. making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.

7. Be silent before 
the Lord and wait expectantly for him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the person who carries out evil plans.

8. Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated--it can only bring harm.

9. For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in 
the Lord
will inherit the land.

10. A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.

11. But the humble will inherit the land
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.

12. The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.

13. 
The Lord laughs at him
because he sees that his day is coming.

14. The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow
to bring down the poor and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.

15. Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.


16. The little that the righteous person has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.

17. For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but 
the Lord supports the righteous.

18. 
The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.

19. They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.

20. But the wicked will perish;
the Lord's enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away--
they will fade away like smoke.

21. The wicked person borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.

22. Those who are blessed by 
the Lord will inherit the land,
but those cursed by him will be destroyed.

23. A person's steps are established by 
the Lord,
and he takes pleasure in his way.

24. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because 
the Lord supports him with his hand.

25. I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.

26. He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.

27. Turn away from evil, do what is good,
and settle permanently.

28. For 
the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon his faithful ones.
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.

29. The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it permanently.

30. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.

31. The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.

32. The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and intends to kill him;

33. 
the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.

34. Wait 
for 
the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land.
You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.

35. I have seen a wicked, violent person
well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.

36. Then I passed by and noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.

37. Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the person of peace will have a future.

38. But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.

39. The salvation of the righteous is from 
the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.

40. 
The Lord helps and delivers them;
he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in him.




