New Century Version NCV
English Standard Version ESV
1 Don't be upset because of evil people. Don't be jealous of those who do wrong,
1
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 because like the grass, they will soon dry up. Like green plants, they will soon die away.
2
For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust the Lord and do good. Live in the land and feed on truth.
3
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Enjoy serving the Lord, and he will give you what you want.
4
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you.
5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
6 Then your goodness will shine like the sun, and your fairness like the noonday sun.
6
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
7 Wait and trust the Lord. Don't be upset when others get rich or when someone else's plans succeed.
7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Don't get angry. Don't be upset; it only leads to trouble.
8
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 Evil people will be sent away, but those who trust the Lord will inherit the land.
9
For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 In a little while the wicked will be no more. You may look for them, but they will be gone.
10
In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 People who are not proud will inherit the land and will enjoy complete peace.
11
But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12 The wicked make evil plans against good people. They grind their teeth at them in anger.
12
The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 But the Lord laughs at the wicked, because he sees that their day is coming.
13
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw their swords and bend their bows to kill the poor and helpless, to kill those who are honest.
14
The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;
15 But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will break.
15
their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 It is better to have little and be right than to have much and be wrong.
16
Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.
17 The power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports those who do right.
17
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord watches over the lives of the innocent, and their reward will last forever.
18
The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;
19 They will not be ashamed when trouble comes. They will be full in times of hunger.
19
they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will die. flowers of the fields; they will disappear like smoke.
20
But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrow and don't pay back, but those who do right give freely to others.
21
The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 Those whom the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be sent away.
22
for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 When a person's steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with his ways.
23
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
24 If he stumbles, he will not fall, because the Lord holds his hand.
24
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I was young, and now I am old, but I have never seen good people left helpless or their children begging for food.
25
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
26 Good people always lend freely to others, and their children are a blessing.
26
He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
27 Stop doing evil and do good, so you will live forever.
27
Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.
28 The Lord loves justice and will not leave those who worship him. He will always protect them, but the children of the wicked will die.
28
For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 Good people will inherit the land and will live in it forever.
29
The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.
30 A good person speaks with wisdom, and he says what is fair.
30
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The teachings of his God are in his heart, so he does not fail to keep them.
31
The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.
32 The wicked watch for good people so that they may kill them.
32
The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
33 But the Lord will not take away his protection or let good people be judged guilty.
33
The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the Lord's help and follow him. He will honor you and give you the land, and you will see the wicked sent away.
34
Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I saw a wicked and cruel man who looked strong like a healthy tree in good soil.
35
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he died and was gone; I looked for him, but he couldn't be found.
36
But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Think of the innocent person, and watch the honest one. The man who has peace will have children to live after him.
37
Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But sinners will be destroyed; in the end the wicked will die.
38
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The Lord saves good people; he is their strength in times of trouble.
39
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and saves them; he saves them from the wicked, because they trust in him for protection. A psalm of David to remember.
40
The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.