Psalm 37 (Today's New International Version)

Of David."

1 Do not fret because of those who are evil 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 Take delight⁷ 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 righteous reward¹⁰ shine like the dawn,¹¹ your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still¹² before the LORD and wait patiently¹³ for him; do not fret¹⁴ when people 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 those who are evil will be destroyed,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 peace and prosperity.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 blameless spend their days under the LORD's care,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 Though the LORD's enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in 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 destroyed.⁴² 23 The LORD makes firm the steps⁴³ of those who delight⁴⁴ in him; 24 though they stumble, they will not fall,⁴⁵ for the LORD upholds⁴⁶ them 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 a blessing.^a50 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 Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed^b; the offspring of the wicked will perish.⁵⁴ 29 The righteous will inherit the land⁵⁵ and dwell in it forever.⁵⁶ 30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,⁵⁷ and their tongues speak what is just. 31 The law of their God is in their hearts;⁵⁸ their 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 Hope in the LORD⁶⁴ and keep his way.⁶⁵ He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed,⁶⁶ you will see⁶⁷ it. 35 I have seen the wicked and ruthless flourishing⁶⁸ like a luxuriant native tree, 36 but they soon passed away and were no more; though I looked for them, they could not be found.⁶⁹ 37 Consider the blameless,⁷⁰ observe the upright;⁷¹ a future awaits those who seek peace.^c72 38 But all sinners⁷³ will be destroyed;⁷⁴ there will be no future^d for the wicked.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.