37:1 Of David. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;

37:2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

37:6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil.

37:9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

37:10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.

37:12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

37:13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

37:14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

37:15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

37:16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;

37:17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

37:18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever.

37:19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

37:20 But the wicked will perish: The LORD'S enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke.

37:21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

37:22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.

37:23 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;

37:24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

37:25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

37:26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

37:27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

37:28 For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

37:29 the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

37:30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.

37:32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;

37:33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

37:34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

37:35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

37:36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37:37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.

37:38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

37:39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

37:40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.