‏ Psalms 37

1 David persuades to patience and confidence in God, by the different estate of the godly and the wicked.

¶ A Psalm of David.

1Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be you envious against the workers of iniquity.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed.
4Delight yourself also in the LORD: and he shall give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday.
7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not yourself in any wise to do evil.
9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yes, you shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes on him with his teeth.
13The LORD shall laugh at him: for he sees that his day is coming.
14The 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.
15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18The LORD knows the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20But 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.
21The wicked borrows, and pays not again: but the righteous shows mercy, and gives.
22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed is blessed.
27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for ever more.
28For the LORD loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of judgment.
31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to slay him.
33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36Yet he passed away, and, see, he was not: yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.