Psalms 37:1–40

¹ Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. ² For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. ³ Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself 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 it. ⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. ⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. ⁸ Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. ⁹ For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰ Yet 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 delight in abundant prosperity. ¹² The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, ¹³ but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. ¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the sword and bent 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 is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. ¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. ¹⁸ The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever. ¹⁹ In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied. ²⁰ But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away. ²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. ²² Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed. ²³ The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. ²⁴ Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. ²⁵ I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. ²⁶ They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing. ²⁷ Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever. ²⁸ For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. ²⁹ The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. ³⁰ The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. ³² Though th…