The Destiny of the Wicked and of the Good[a]
don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.
2 They will soon disappear like grass that dries up;
they will die like plants that wither.
live in the land and be safe.
4 Seek your happiness in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desire.
trust in him, and he will help you;
6 he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.
don’t be worried about those who prosper
or those who succeed in their evil plans.
it only leads to trouble.
9 Those who trust in the Lord will possess the land,
but the wicked will be driven out.
you may look for them, but you won’t find them;
11 but the humble will possess the land
and enjoy prosperity and peace.
and glare at them with hate.
13 But the Lord laughs at wicked people,
because he knows they will soon be destroyed.
to kill the poor and needy,
to slaughter those who do what is right;
15 but they will be killed by their own swords,
and their bows will be smashed.
is worth more than the wealth of all the wicked,
17 because the Lord will take away the strength of the wicked,
but protect those who are good.
and the land will be theirs forever.
19 They will not suffer when times are bad;
they will have enough in time of famine.
20 But the wicked will die;
the enemies of the Lord will vanish like wild flowers;
they will disappear like smoke.
but good people are generous with their gifts.
22 Those who are blessed by the Lord will possess the land,
but those who are cursed by him will be driven out.
and protects those who please him.
24 If they fall, they will not stay down,
because the Lord will help them up.
but I have never seen good people abandoned by the Lord
or their children begging for food.
26 At all times they give freely and lend to others,
and their children are a blessing.
and your descendants will always live in the land;
28 for the Lord loves what is right
and does not abandon his faithful people.
He protects them forever,
but the descendants of the wicked will be driven out.
29 The righteous will possess the land
and live in it forever.
and they are always fair.
31 They keep the law of their God in their hearts
and never depart from it.
and try to kill them;
33 but the Lord will not abandon them to their enemy’s power
or let them be condemned when they are on trial.
he will honor you by giving you the land,
and you will see the wicked driven out.
he towered over everyone like a cedar of Lebanon;[b]
36 but later I[c] passed by, and he wasn’t there;
I looked for him, but couldn’t find him.
peaceful people have descendants,
38 but sinners are completely destroyed,
and their descendants are wiped out.
and protects them in times of trouble.
40 He helps them and rescues them;
he saves them from the wicked,
because they go to him for protection.
Footnotes
- Psalm 37:1 HEBREW TITLE: By David.
- Psalm 37:35 One ancient translation like a cedar of Lebanon; Hebrew unclear.
- Psalm 37:36 Some ancient translations I; Hebrew he.