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Psalm chapter 37

English Standard Version

1Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. 6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 7Be 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! 8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. 10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 11But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. 12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, 13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. 14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; 15their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. 18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; 19they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. 20But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; 22for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 23The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; 24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. 25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 26He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. 27Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. 28For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. 29The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. 30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. 31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. 32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. 33The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. 34Wait 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. 35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. 36But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. 37Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. 38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. 39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. 40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
New International Version

1Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
7Be 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. 8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.
9For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. 10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. 12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. 14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. 18The blameless spend their days under the LORD's care, and their inheritance will endure forever.
19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20But 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. 21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. 23The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
24though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. 25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. 27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
28For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. 30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
31The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. 32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;
33but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it. 35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. 37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
38But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked. 39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
New American Standard Bible

1Do not get upset because of evildoers, Do not be envious of wrongdoers. 2For they will wither quickly like the grass, And decay like the green plants. 3Trust in the Lord and do good; Live in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. 6He will bring out your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes. 8Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing. 9For evildoers will be eliminated, But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. 10Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. 11But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity. 12The wicked plots against the righteous, And gnashes at him with his teeth. 13The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming. 14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To take down the afflicted and the needy, To kill off those who are upright in conduct. 15Their sword will enter their own heart, And their bows will be broken. 16Better is the little of the righteous Than the abundance of many wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the Lord sustains the righteous. 18The Lord knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will be forever. 19They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty. 20But the wicked will perish; And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures, They vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 21The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives. 22For those blessed by Him will inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be eliminated. 23The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24When he falls, he will not be hurled down, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. 25I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging for bread. 26All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing. 27Turn from evil and do good, So that you will dwell forever. 28For the Lord loves justice And does not abandon His godly ones; They are protected forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated. 29The righteous will inherit the land And dwell in it forever. 30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice. 31The Law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip. 32The wicked spies upon the righteous And seeks to kill him. 33The Lord will not leave him in his hand Or let him be condemned when he is judged. 34Wait for the Lord and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are eliminated, you will see it. 35I have seen a wicked, violent person Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil. 36Then he passed away, and behold, he was no more; I searched for him, but he could not be found. 37Observe the blameless person, and look at the upright; For the person of peace will have a future. 38But wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed; The future of the wicked will be eliminated. 39But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in time of trouble. 40The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him.
Christian Standard Bible

1Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants. 3Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.
4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. 5Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act,
6making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.
7Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. 8Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated--it can only bring harm.
9For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there.
11But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity. 12The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.
13The Lord laughs at him because he sees that his day is coming. 14The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright.
15Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 16The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people.
17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports the righteous. 18The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.
19They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger.
20But the wicked will perish; the Lord's enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away -- they will fade away like smoke. 21The wicked person borrows and does not repay, but the righteous one is gracious and giving.
22Those who are blessed by the Lord will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be destroyed. 23A person's steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way.
24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with his hand. 25I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.
26He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing. 27Turn away from evil, do what is good, and settle permanently. 28For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.
29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently. 30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just.
31The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. 32The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous and intends to kill him;
33the Lord will not leave him in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.
34Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed. 35I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.
36Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found. 37Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the person of peace will have a future.
38But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed. 39The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, their refuge in a time of distress. 40The Lord helps and delivers them; he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in him.
New Living Translation

1 Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. 2For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
3Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
5Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. 6He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
7Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
8Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper — it only leads to harm. 9For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.
10Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. 11The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.
12The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. 13But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.
14The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. 15But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. 17For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.
18Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. 19They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.
20But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field — they will disappear like smoke.
21The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. 22Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die.
23The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
25Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. 26The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.
27Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.
28For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die. 29The godly will possess the land and will live there forever.
30The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. 31They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path.
32The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them. 33But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
34Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.
35I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. 36But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
37Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace. 38But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.
39The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. 40The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.
King James Version

1{A Psalm of David.} Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 32The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

What does Psalm chapter 37 mean?

In the beginning of this psalm David tells his audience not to "fret," which is translated from a Hebrew word referring to burning or heat. In contrast to anxiety, or rage, believers should trust in the Lord, delight themselves in the Lord, commit their way to the Lord, and wait patiently for the Lord. He explains that the prosperity of the wicked lasts only a short time, whereas the Lord's blessing of the righteous lasts forever (Psalm 37:1–11).

David points out that God is fully aware of the situations faced by the righteous. He is also aware of the seemingly unfair prosperity of the wicked. He knows the wicked abuse the poor and needy and violently oppose the righteous. He assures his readers that God always takes care of His people and protects them. His blessing extends not only to the righteous but also to their descendants. David says the righteous person has God's Word in his heart, and therefore he does not stumble through life. The Lord is always near the righteous person and will give him the Promised Land for an inheritance (Psalm 37:12–34).

From the world's perspective, evil people might seem like a tree with wide-spreading branches. Something so large, and so deeply rooted, can be intimidating. However, as David notes, that is merely an illusion compared to the power of God. In his own life, David saw the fate of the rich (1 Samuel 25:39), the strong (1 Samuel 17:48–51), and those in authority (1 Samuel 23:14) who rejected God and godly wisdom. When the once-powerful tree is destroyed, eventually all traces are gone. God promises a future for the righteous, but He will destroy the wicked. David concludes Psalm 37 by describing the Lord as the believers' salvation and refuge in times of trouble. He delivers them from the wicked (Psalm 37:35–40).
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