Psalms 36; Psalms 37; Psalms 38; Psalms 39

Psalms 36

1 There is an inspired truth about the wicked person who has rebellion in the depths of his heart: He is not terrified of God.

2 He flatters himself and does not hate or [even] recognize his guilt.

3 The words from his mouth are [nothing but] trouble and deception. He has stopped doing what is wise and good.

4 He invents trouble while lying on his bed and chooses to go the wrong direction. He does not reject evil.

5 O LORD, your mercy reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, your judgments like the deep ocean. You save people and animals, O LORD.

7 Your mercy is so precious, O God, that Adam's descendants take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8 They are refreshed with the rich foods in your house, and you make them drink from the river of your pleasure.

9 Indeed, the fountain of life is with you. In your light we see light.

10 Continue to show your mercy to those who know you and your righteousness to those whose motives are decent.

11 Do not let the feet of arrogant people step on me or the hands of wicked people push me away.

12 Look at the troublemakers who have fallen. They have been pushed down and are unable to stand up again.

Psalms 37

1 Do not be preoccupied with evildoers. Do not envy those who do wicked things.

2 They will quickly dry up like grass and wither away like green plants.

3 Trust the LORD, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.

4 Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act [on your behalf].

6 He will make your righteousness shine like a light, your just cause like the noonday sun.

7 Surrender yourself to the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Do not be preoccupied with [an evildoer] who succeeds in his way when he carries out his schemes.

8 Let go of anger, and leave rage behind. Do not be preoccupied. It only leads to evil.

9 Evildoers will be cut off [from their inheritance], but those who wait with hope for the LORD will inherit the land.

10 In a little while a wicked person will vanish. Then you can carefully examine where he was, but there will be no trace of him.

11 Oppressed people will inherit the land and will enjoy unlimited peace.

12 The wicked person plots against a righteous one and grits his teeth at him.

13 The Lord laughs at him because he has seen that his time is coming.

14 Wicked people pull out their swords and bend their bows to kill oppressed and needy people, to slaughter those who are decent.

15 [But] their own swords will pierce their hearts, and their bows will be broken.

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

17 The arms of wicked people will be broken, but the LORD continues to support righteous people.

18 The LORD knows the daily [struggles] of innocent people. Their inheritance will last forever.

19 They will not be put to shame in trying times. Even in times of famine they will be satisfied.

20 But wicked people will disappear. The LORD's enemies will vanish like the best part of a meadow. They will vanish like smoke.

21 A wicked person borrows, but he does not repay. A righteous person is generous and giving.

22 Those who are blessed by him will inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23 A person's steps are directed by the LORD, and the LORD delights in his way.

24 When he falls, he will not be thrown down headfirst because the LORD holds on to his hand.

25 I have been young, and now I am old, but I have never seen a righteous person abandoned or his descendants begging for food.

26 He is always generous and lends freely. His descendants are a blessing.

27 Avoid evil, do good, and live forever.

28 The LORD loves justice, and he will not abandon his godly ones. They will be kept safe forever, but the descendants of wicked people will be cut off.

29 Righteous people will inherit the land and live there permanently.

30 The mouth of the righteous person reflects on wisdom. His tongue speaks what is fair.

31 The teachings of his God are in his heart. His feet do not slip.

32 The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him.

33 But the LORD will not abandon him to the wicked person's power or condemn him when he is brought to trial.

34 Wait with hope for the LORD, and follow his path, and he will honor you by giving you the land. When wicked people are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked person [acting like] a tyrant, spreading himself out like a large cedar tree.

36 But he moved on, and now there is no trace of him. I searched for him, but he could not be found.

37 Notice the innocent person, and look at the decent person, because the peacemaker has a future.

38 But rebels will be completely destroyed. The future of wicked people will be cut off.

39 The victory for righteous people comes from the LORD. He is their fortress in times of trouble.

40 The LORD helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from wicked people. He saves them because they have taken refuge in him.

Psalms 38

1 O LORD, do not angrily punish me or discipline me in your wrath.

2 Your arrows have struck me. Your hand has struck me hard.

3 No healthy spot is left on my body because of your rage. There is no peace in my bones because of my sin.

4 My guilt has overwhelmed me. Like a heavy load, it is more than I can bear.

5 My wounds smell rotten. They fester because of my stupidity.

6 I am bent over and bowed down very low. All day I walk around in mourning.

7 My insides are filled with burning pain, and no healthy spot is left on my body.

8 I am numb and completely devastated. I roar because my heart's in turmoil.

9 You know all my desires, O Lord, and my groaning has not been hidden from you.

10 My heart is pounding. I have lost my strength. Even the light of my eyes has left me.

11 My loved ones and my friends keep their distance and my relatives stand far away because of my sickness.

12 Those who seek my life lay traps for me. Those who are out to harm me talk about ruining me. All day long they think of ways to deceive me.

13 But I am like a person who cannot hear and like a person who cannot speak.

14 I am like one who cannot hear and who can offer no arguments.

15 But I wait with hope for you, O LORD. You will answer, O Lord, my God.

16 I said, "Do not let them gloat over me. When my foot slips, do not let them promote themselves at my expense."

17 I am ready to fall. I am continually aware of my pain.

18 I confess my guilt. My sin troubles me.

19 My mortal enemies are growing stronger. Many hate me for no reason.

20 They pay me back with evil instead of good, and they accuse me because I try to do what is good.

21 Do not abandon me, O LORD. O my God, do not be so distant from me.

22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my savior.

Psalms 39

1 I said, "I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will bridle my mouth while wicked people are in my presence."

2 I remained totally speechless. I kept silent, although it did me no good. While I was deep in thought, my pain grew worse.

3 My heart burned like a fire flaring up within me. Then I spoke with my tongue:

4 "Teach me, O LORD, about the end of my life. Teach me about the number of days I have left so that I may know how temporary my life is.

5 Indeed, you have made the length of my days [only] a few inches. My life span is nothing compared to yours. Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind. Selah

6 Each person who walks around is like a shadow. They are busy for no reason. They accumulate riches without knowing who will get them."

7 And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? My hope is in you!

8 Rescue me from all my rebellious acts. Do not disgrace me in front of godless fools.

9 I remained speechless. I did not open my mouth because you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove the sickness you laid upon me. My life is over because you struck me with your hand.

11 With stern warnings you discipline people for their crimes. Like a moth you eat away at what is dear to them. Certainly, everyone is like a whisper in the wind. Selah

12 Listen to my prayer, O LORD. Open your ear to my cry for help. Do not be deaf to my tears, for I am a foreign resident with you, a stranger like all my ancestors.

13 Look away from me so that I may smile again before I go away and am no more.