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