Psalm 37

Psalm 37 – New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 37^[a]

Of David.

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

Footnotes

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 37 – King James Version (KJV)

A Psalm of David.

א Aleph

1. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.

ב Bet

3. Trust in the LORD, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4. Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

ג Gimel

5. Commit thy way unto the LORD; Trust also in him; And he shall bring it to pass.
6. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, And thy judgment as the noonday.

ד Dalet

7. Rest 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.

ה He

8. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9. For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

ו Waw

10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11. But the meek shall inherit the earth; And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

ז Zain

12. The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13. The Lord shall laugh at him: For he seeth that his day is coming.

ח Het

14. The 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.
15. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.

ט Tet

16. A little that a righteous man hath is better Than the riches of many wicked.
17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: But the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

י Yod

18. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: And their inheritance shall be for ever.
19. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

כ Kaph

20. But 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.

ל Lamed

21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: But the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; And they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

מ Mem

23. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: And he delighteth in his way.
24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

נ Nun

24. I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
25. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.

ס Samek

27. Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore.
28. For the LORD loveth judgment,

ע Ain

And forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

29. The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever.

פ Pe

30. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, And his tongue talketh of judgment.
31. The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.

צ Zade

32. The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him.
33. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.

ק Qoph

34. Wait 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.

ר Resh

35. I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

ש Shin

37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace.
38. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: The end of the wicked shall be cut off.

ת Taw

39. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.