NETfree - Psalms - 37

37:1  By David.Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers!

37:2  For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.

37:3  Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!

37:4  Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers.

37:5  Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.

37:6  He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.

37:7  Wait patiently for the LORD! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!

37:8  Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!

37:9  Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the LORD are the ones who will possess the land.

37:10  Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.

37:11  But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.

37:12  Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.

37:13  The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming.

37:14  Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly.

37:15  Their swords will pierce 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,

37:17  for evil men will lose their power, but the LORD sustains the godly.

37:18  The LORD watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance.

37:19  They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.

37:20  But evil men will die; the LORD's enemies will be incinerated - they will go up in smoke.

37:21  Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.

37:22  Surely those favored by the LORD will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out.

37:23  The LORD grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.

37:24  Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the LORD holds his hand.

37:25  I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.

37:26  All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.

37:27  Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security.

37:28  For the LORD promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.

37:29  The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.

37:30  The godly speak wise words and promote justice.

37:31  The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.

37:32  Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them.

37:33  But the LORD does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.

37:34  Rely on the LORD! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.

37:35  I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.

37:36  But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.

37:37  Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! For the one who promotes peace has a future.

37:38  Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.

37:39  But the LORD delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble.

37:40  The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek his protection.