New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
1
Don't be upset because of sinful people. Don't be jealous of those who do wrong.
2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
2
Like grass, they will soon dry up. Like green plants, they will soon die.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
3
Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live in the land and enjoy its food.
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
4
Find your delight in the Lord. Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
5
Commit your life to the Lord. Here is what he will do if you trust in him.
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
6
He will make your godly ways shine like the dawn. He will make your honest life shine like the sun at noon.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
7
Be still. Be patient. Wait for the LORD to act. Don't be upset when other people succeed. Don't be upset when they carry out their evil plans.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
8
Keep from being angry. Turn away from anger. Don't be upset. That only leads to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
9
Sinful people will be cut off from the land. But it will be given to those who put their hope in the Lord.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
10
In a little while, there won't be any more sinners. Even if you look for them, you won't be able to find them.
11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
11
But those who are free of pride will be given the land. They will enjoy great peace.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
12
Sinful people make plans to harm those who do what is right. They grind their teeth at them.
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
13
But the Lord laughs at those who do evil. He knows the day is coming when he will judge them.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
14
Sinners pull out their swords. They bend their bows. They want to kill poor and needy people. They plan to murder those who lead honest lives.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
15
But they will be killed with their own swords. Their own bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
16
Those who do what is right may have very little. But it's better than the wealth of many sinners.
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
17
The power of those who are evil will be broken. But the LORD takes good care of those who do what is right.
18 The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.
18
Every day the LORD watches over those who are without blame. What he has given them will last forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
19
When trouble comes to them, they will have what they need. When there is little food in the land, they will still have plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
20
But sinful people will die. The LORD's enemies will be like flowers in the field. They will disappear like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
21
Sinful people borrow and don't pay back. But those who are godly give freely to others.
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.
22
The LORD will give the land to those he blesses. But he will cut off those he puts a curse on.
23 The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
23
If the LORD is pleased with the way a man lives, he makes his steps secure.
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
24
Even if the man trips, he won't fall. The Lord's hand takes good care of him.
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
25
I once was young, and now I'm old. But I've never seen godly people deserted. I've never seen their children begging for bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.
26
The godly are always giving and lending freely. Their children will be blessed.
27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
27
Turn away from evil and do good. Then you will live in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed ; the offspring of the wicked will perish.
28
The LORD loves those who are honest. He will not desert those who are faithful to him. They will be kept safe forever. But the children of sinners will be cut off from the land.
29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
29
Those who do what is right will be given the land. They will live in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
30
The mouths of those who do what is right speak words of wisdom. They say what is honest.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.
31
God's law is in their hearts. Their feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;
32
Those who are evil hide and wait for godly people. They are trying to kill them.
33 but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
33
But the LORD will not leave the godly in their power. He will not let them be found guilty when they are brought into court.
34 Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
34
Wait for the LORD to act. Live as he wants you to. He will honor you by giving you the land. When sinners are cut off from it, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
35
I saw a mean and sinful person. He was doing well, like a green tree in its own soil.
36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
36
But he soon passed away and was gone. Even though I looked for him, I couldn't find him.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
37
Think about those who are without blame. Look at those who are honest. A man who loves peace will have a tomorrow.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.
38
But all sinners will be destroyed. Those who are evil won't have a tomorrow. They will be cut off from the land.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
39
The LORD saves those who do what is right. He is their place of safety when trouble comes.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
40
The LORD helps them and saves them. He saves them from sinful people because they go to him for safety.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.