Psalm 37 (New International Version)

Of David.

1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious¹ of those who do wrong;² 2 for like the grass they will soon wither,³ like green plants they will soon die away.⁴ 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land⁵ and enjoy safe pasture.⁶ 4 Delight⁷ yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.⁸ 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him⁹ and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness¹⁰ shine like the dawn,¹¹ the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still¹² before the LORD and wait patiently¹³ for him; do not fret¹⁴ when men succeed in their ways,¹⁵ when they carry out their wicked schemes.¹⁶ 8 Refrain from anger¹⁷ and turn from wrath; do not fret¹⁸--it leads only to evil. 9 For evil men will be cut off,¹⁹ but those who hope²⁰ in the LORD will inherit the land.²¹ 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;²² though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land²³ and enjoy great peace.²⁴ 12 The wicked plot²⁵ against the righteous and gnash their teeth²⁶ at them; 13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.²⁷ 14 The wicked draw the sword²⁸ and bend the bow²⁹ to bring down the poor and needy,³⁰ to slay those whose ways are upright. 15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,³¹ and their bows will be broken.³² 16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth³³ of many wicked; 17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,³⁴ but the LORD upholds³⁵ the righteous. 18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,³⁶ and their inheritance will endure forever.³⁷ 19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. 20 But the wicked will perish:³⁸ The LORD's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke.³⁹ 21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;⁴⁰ 22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses⁴¹ will be cut off.⁴² 23 If the LORD delights⁴³ in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;⁴⁴ 24 though he stumble, he will not fall,⁴⁵ for the LORD upholds⁴⁶ him with his hand. 25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken⁴⁷ or their children begging⁴⁸ bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely;⁴⁹ their children will be blessed.⁵⁰ 27 Turn from evil and do good;⁵¹ then you will dwell in the land forever.⁵² 28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.⁵³ They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;⁵⁴ 29 the righteous will inherit the land⁵⁵ and dwell in it forever.⁵⁶ 30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,⁵⁷ and his tongue speaks what is just. 31 The law of his God is in his heart;⁵⁸ his feet do not slip.⁵⁹ 32 The wicked lie in wait⁶⁰ for the righteous,⁶¹ seeking their very lives; 33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned⁶² when brought to trial.⁶³ 34 Wait for the LORD⁶⁴ and keep his way.⁶⁵ He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off,⁶⁶ you will see⁶⁷ it. 35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing⁶⁸ like a green tree in its native soil, 36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.⁶⁹ 37 Consider the blameless,⁷⁰ observe the upright;⁷¹ there is a future^a for the man of peace.⁷² 38 But all sinners⁷³ will be destroyed;⁷⁴ the future^b of the wicked will be cut off.⁷⁵ 39 The salvation⁷⁶ of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.⁷⁷ 40 The LORD helps⁷⁸ them and delivers⁷⁹ them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves⁸⁰ them, because they take refuge⁸¹ in him.