Psalm 3722
By David
37:1 Do not fret1
when wicked men seem to succeed!2
Do not envy evildoers!
37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass,
and wither away like plants.3
37:3 Trust in the LORD and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!4
37:4 Then you will take delight in the LORD,5
and he will answer your prayers.6
37:5 Commit your future to the LORD!7
Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.8
37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,
and publicly defend your just cause.9
37:7 Wait patiently for the LORD!10
Wait confidently11
for him!
Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner,12
a man who carries out wicked schemes!
37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated!13
Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
37:9 Wicked men14
will be wiped out,15
but those who rely on the LORD are the ones who will possess the land.16
37:10 Evil men will soon disappear;17
you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.18
37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land,
and enjoy great prosperity.19
37:12 Evil men plot against the godly,20
and viciously attack them.21
37:13 The sovereign master laughs in disgust22
at them,
for he knows that their day is coming.23
37:14 Evil men draw their swords,
and prepare their bows,
to bring down24
the oppressed and needy,
and slaughter those who are godly.25
37:15 Their swords will pierce26
their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than
the wealth of many evil men,27
37:17 for evil men will lose their power,28
but the LORD sustains29
the godly.
37:18 The LORD watches over the innocent day by
day,30
and they possess a permanent inheritance.31
37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times
come,32
when famine comes they will have enough to eat.33
37:20 But34
evil men will die;
the LORD’s enemies will be incinerated,35
they will go up in smoke.36
37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt;
but the godly show compassion and are generous.37
37:22 Surely38
those favored by the LORD39
will possess the land,
but those rejected40
by him will be wiped out.41
37:23 The LORD grants success to the one
whose behavior he finds commendable.42
37:24 Even if43
he trips, he will not fall headlong,44
for the LORD holds45
his hand.
37:25 I was once young, now I am old.
I have never seen a godly man abandoned,
or his offspring forced to search for food.46
37:26 All day long he shows compassion and lends
to others,47
and his offspring are blessed.
37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right!48
Then you will enjoy lasting security.49
37:28 For the LORD promotes50
justice,
and never abandons51
his faithful followers.
They are permanently secure,52
but the offspring of evil men are wiped out.53
37:29 The godly will possess the land,
and will dwell in it permanently.
37:30 The godly speak wise words,
and promote justice.54
37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking,55
their56
feet do not slip.
37:32 Evil men set an ambush for the godly,
and try to kill them.57
37:33 But the LORD does not surrender the godly,
or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.58
37:34 Rely59
on the LORD! Obey his commands!60
Then he will permit you61
to possess the land;
you will see the demise of evil men.62
37:35 I have seen ruthless evil men63
growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.64
37:36 But then one passes by, and all of a sudden
they have disappeared!65
I looked for them, but they could not be found.
37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity!
Observe the godly!66
For the one who promotes peace has a future.67
37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed,68
evil men have no future.69
37:39 But the LORD delivers the godly,70
he protects them in times of trouble.71
37:40 The LORD helps them and rescues them,
he rescues them from evil men and delivers them,72
for they seek his protection.