Aa
Psalm 37
Instruction in Wisdom
Of David.
1Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.37:1 Ps 73:3; Pr 3:31; 23:17; 24:19
2For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.37:2 Ps 92:7; 129:6; Jms 1:11

3Trust in the Lord and do what is good;37:3 Ps 62:8
dwell in the land and live securely.37:3 Or and cultivate faithfulness, or and befriend faithfulness37:3 Pr 2:21
4Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.37:4 Ps 21:2; 145:19; Is 58:14

5Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act,37:5 Ps 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pt 5:7
6making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.37:6 Ps 97:11; Is 58:8,10

7Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him;37:7 Ps 40:1; Lm 3:26
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the person who carries out evil plans.37:7 Jr 12:1

8Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated — it can only bring harm.37:8 Eph 4:31; Col 3:8
9For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.37:9 Pr 2:21; Is 57:13; 60:21

10A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.37:10 Jb 7:10; 24:24; Ps 37:35–36
11But the humble will inherit the land37:11 Mt 5:5
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.37:11 Ps 72:7

12The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.37:12 Ps 31:13,20; 35:16
13The Lord laughs at him37:13 Ps 2:4; 59:8; Hab 1:10
because he sees that his day is coming.37:13 1Sm 26:10

14The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the37:14 Lit their bow
to bring down the poor and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.37:14 Ps 11:2; Lm 2:4
15Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.37:15 1Sm 2:4; Ps 46:9

16The little that the righteous person has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.37:16 Pr 15:16; 16:8
17For the arms of the wicked will be broken,37:17 Ps 10:15
but the Lord supports the righteous.37:17 Ps 145:14

18The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.37:18 Ps 1:6
19They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.37:19 Jb 5:20; Ps 33:19

20But the wicked will perish;
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away —
they will fade away like smoke.37:20 Ps 68:2; Hs 13:3

21The wicked person borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.37:21 Ps 112:5,9
22Those who are blessed by the Lord will inherit the land,
but those cursed by him will be destroyed.37:22 Pr 3:33

23A person’s steps are established by the Lord,
and he takes pleasure in his way.37:23 1Sm 2:9; Ps 66:9
24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord supports him with his hand.37:24 Ps 145:14; Pr 24:16; Mc 7:8

25I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.37:25 Pr 10:3; Is 41:17
26He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.37:26 Dt 15:8; Ps 112:5,9; Mt 5:42

27Turn away from evil, do what is good,
and settle permanently.37:27 Ps 34:14; 102:28
28For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon his faithful ones.37:28 Dt 31:6; Heb 13:5
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.37:28 Ps 21:10; Pr 2:22
29The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it permanently.37:29 Pr 2:21; Is 60:21

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.37:30 Ps 49:3; 119:13; Pr 10:13
31The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.37:31 Dt 6:6; Ps 40:8; 119:11

32The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and intends to kill him;37:32 Ps 10:8; 17:11
33the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.37:33 Ps 34:22; 109:31; 2Pt 2:9

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.37:34 Ps 27:14; 52:5–6; 91:8

35I have seen a wicked, violent person
well-rooted,37:35 Hb obscure like a flourishing native tree.37:35 Jb 5:3; Jr 12:2
36Then I37:36 LXX, Syr, Vg, Jer; MT reads he passed by and noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.37:36 Jb 20:5

37Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the person of peace will have a future.37:37 Or posterity, also in v. 3837:37 Is 57:1–2
38But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.37:38 Ps 1:4–6; Pr 2:22

39The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.37:39 Ps 3:8; 9:9; 62:1
40The Lord helps and delivers them;
he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in him.37:40 Ps 22:4; 34:22; 54:4