Psalms 37

Instruction in Wisdom

Of David.

1 Do not be agitated by evildoers;

do not envy those who do wrong.  * 37:1 Ps 73:3; Pr 3:31; 23:17; 24:19

2 For they wither quickly like grass

and wilt like tender green plants.  * 37:2 Ps 92:7; 129:6; Jms 1:11

3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;  * 37:3 Ps 62:8

dwell in the land and live securely.  * 37:3 Or and cultivate faithfulness, or and befriend faithfulness,* 37:3 Pr 2:21

4 Take delight in the  Lord,

and he will give you your heart’s desires.  * 37:4 Ps 21:2; 145:19; Is 58:14

5 Commit your way to the  Lord;

trust in him, and he will act,  * 37:5 Ps 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pt 5:7

6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,

your justice like the noonday.  * 37:6 Ps 97:11; Is 58:8,10

7 Be silent before the  Lord and wait expectantly for him;  * 37:7 Ps 40:1; Lm 3:26

do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,

by the person who carries out evil plans.  * 37:7 Jr 12:1

8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;

do not be agitated — it can only bring harm.  * 37:8 Eph 4:31; Col 3:8

9 For evildoers will be destroyed,

but those who put their hope in the  Lord

will inherit the land.  * 37:9 Pr 2:21; Is 57:13; 60:21

10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;

though you look for him, he will not be there.  * 37:10 Jb 7:10; 24:24; Ps 37:35–36

11 But the humble will inherit the land  * 37:11 Mt 5:5

and will enjoy abundant prosperity.  * 37:11 Ps 72:7

12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous

and gnashes his teeth at him.  * 37:12 Ps 31:13,20; 35:16

13 The Lord laughs at him  * 37:13 Ps 2:4; 59:8; Hab 1:10

because he sees that his day is coming.  * 37:13 1Sm 26:10

14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the  * 37:14 Lit their  bow

to bring down the poor and needy

and to slaughter those whose way is upright.  * 37:14 Ps 11:2; Lm 2:4

15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.  * 37:15 1Sm 2:4; Ps 46:9

16 The little that the righteous person has is better

than the abundance of many wicked people.  * 37:16 Pr 15:16; 16:8

17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,  * 37:17 Ps 10:15

but the Lord supports the righteous.  * 37:17 Ps 145:14

18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,

and their inheritance will last forever.  * 37:18 Ps 1:6

19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;

they will be satisfied in days of hunger.  * 37:19 Jb 5:20; Ps 33:19

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.  * 37:20 Ps 68:2; Hs 13:3

21 The wicked person borrows and does not repay,

but the righteous one is gracious and giving.  * 37:21 Ps 112:5,9

22 Those who are blessed by the  Lord will inherit the land,

but those cursed by him will be destroyed.  * 37:22 Pr 3:33

23 A person’s steps are established by the  Lord,

and he takes pleasure in his way.  * 37:23 1Sm 2:9; Ps 66:9

24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,

because the  Lord supports him with his hand.  * 37:24 Ps 145:14; Pr 24:16; Mc 7:8

25 I have been young and now I am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned

or his children begging for bread.  * 37:25 Pr 10:3; Is 41:17

26 He is always generous, always lending,

and his children are a blessing.  * 37:26 Dt 15:8; Ps 112:5,9; Mt 5:42

27 Turn away from evil, do what is good,

and settle permanently.  * 37:27 Ps 34:14; 102:28

28 For the Lord loves justice

and will not abandon his faithful ones.  * 37:28 Dt 31:6; Heb 13:5

They are kept safe forever,

but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.  * 37:28 Ps 21:10; Pr 2:22

29 The righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it permanently.  * 37:29 Pr 2:21; Is 60:21

30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;

his tongue speaks what is just.  * 37:30 Ps 49:3; 119:13; Pr 10:13

31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;

his steps do not falter.  * 37:31 Dt 6:6; Ps 40:8; 119:11

32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous

and intends to kill him;  * 37:32 Ps 10:8; 17:11

33 the Lord will not leave him

in the power of the wicked one

or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.  * 37:33 Ps 34:22; 109:31; 2Pt 2:9

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.  * 37:34 Ps 27:14; 52:5–6; 91:8

35 I have seen a wicked, violent person

well-rooted,  * 37:35 Hb obscure like a flourishing native tree.  * 37:35 Jb 5:3; Jr 12:2

36 Then I  * 37:36 LXX, Syr, Vg, Jer; MT reads he passed by and noticed he was gone;

I searched for him, but he could not be found.  * 37:36 Jb 20:5

37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright,

for the person of peace will have a future.  * 37:37 Or posterity, also in v. 38,* 37:37 Is 57:1–2

38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;

the future of the wicked will be destroyed.  * 37:38 Ps 1:4–6; Pr 2:22

39 The salvation of the righteous is from the  Lord,

their refuge in a time of distress.  * 37:39 Ps 3:8; 9:9; 62:1

40 The Lord helps and delivers them;

he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them

because they take refuge in him.  * 37:40 Ps 22:4; 34:22; 54:4