Psalms 37
37
A Song of Wisdom
Poetic praise by King David # 37 Psalm 37 is an acrostic psalm, in which every other verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
1Don’t follow after the wicked ones or be jealous of their wealth.
Don’t think for a moment they’re better off than you.
2They and their short-lived success
will soon shrivel up and quickly fade away,
like grass clippings in the hot sun.
3Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes.
Fix your heart on the promises of God, and you will dwell in the land,
feasting on his faithfulness.
4Find your delight # 37:4 The word delight means “to be soft or tender.” and true pleasure in Yahweh,
and he will give you what you desire the most.
5Give # 37:5 The Hebrew word used here can be translated “commit,” which means “to roll over your burdens on the Lord.” God the right to direct your life,
and as you trust him along the way,
you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!
6He will appear # 37:6 The Hebrew verb found here is also used for giving birth. Perhaps this is a reference to the birth of Christ, our righteousness. as your righteousness,
as sure as the dawning of a new day.
He will manifest as your justice,
as sure and strong as the noonday sun.
7Quiet your heart in his presence
and wait # 37:7 The root word of the word for “wait” can mean “to whirl” or “to be in labor [give birth].” What an unusual concept for waiting on God. We may feel like we’re being whirled around by our circumstances, but in the end, our season of waiting gives birth to greater things. patiently for Yahweh.
And don’t think for a moment that the wicked, in their prosperity,
are better off than you.
8Stay away from anger and revenge.
Keep envy far from you, for it only leads you into lies.
9For one day the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord
will inherit the land.
10Just a little while longer and the ungodly will vanish;
you will look for them in vain.
11But the humble of heart will inherit every promise # 37:11 See Matt. 5:5.
and enjoy abundant peace.
12Let the wicked keep plotting against the godly
with all their sneers and arrogant jeers.
13God laughs at the wicked and their plans,
for he knows their day is coming!
14Evil ones take aim at the poor and helpless;
they are ready to slaughter those who do right.
15But the Lord will turn all their weapons of wickedness back on themselves,
piercing their pride-filled hearts until they are helpless.
16It is much better to have little
combined with much of God
than to have the fabulous wealth of the wicked and nothing else.
17For the Lord takes care of all his forgiven ones
while the strength of evil men will surely slip away.
18Day by day the Lord watches the good deeds of the godly,
and he prepares for them his forever-reward.
19Even in a time of disaster he will watch over them,
and they will always have more than enough
no matter what happens.
20All the enemies of God will perish.
For the wicked have only a momentary value, a fading glory.
Then one day they vanish! Here today, gone tomorrow.
21They break their promises, borrowing money
but never paying it back.
The good man returns what he owes with some extra besides.
22Yahweh’s blessed ones receive the land,
but the cursed ones will be cut off
with nothing to show for themselves.
23When Yahweh delights in how you live your life,
he establishes your every step.
24If they stumble badly they will still survive,
for the Lord lifts them up with his hands.
25I was once inexperienced, # 37:25 Or “immature.” The Hebrew word na’ar has a homonym that means “to be driven out,” which may be a reference to David being driven out of Jerusalem by Absalom. but now I’m old.
Not once have I found a lover of God forsaken by him,
nor have any of their children gone hungry.
26Instead, I’ve found the godly ones
to be the generous ones who give freely to others.
Their children are blessed and become a blessing.
27If you truly want to dwell forever in God’s presence,
forsake evil and do what is right in his eyes.
28The Lord loves it when he sees us walking in his justice.
He will never desert his devoted lovers;
they will be kept forever in his faithful care,
but the descendants of the wicked will be banished.
29The faithful lovers of God will inherit the earth
and enjoy every promise of God’s care,
dwelling in peace forever.
30God-lovers make the best counselors.
Their words possess wisdom and are right and trustworthy.
31The ways of God are in their hearts
and they won’t swerve from the paths of steadfast righteousness.
32Evil ones spy on the godly ones, stalking them
to find something they could use to accuse them.
They’re out for the kill!
33But God will foil all their plots.
The godly will not stand condemned when brought to trial.
34So don’t be impatient for Yahweh to act;
keep moving forward steadily in his ways,
and he will exalt you to possess the land.
You’ll watch with your own eyes
and see the wicked lose everything.
35I’ve already seen this happen.
Once I saw a wicked and violent man
overpower all who were around him,
a domineering tyrant with his prideful and oppressive ways.
36Then he died and was forgotten.
Now no one cares that he is gone forever.
37But you can tell who are the blameless and spiritually mature.
What a different story with them!
The godly ones will have a peaceful, prosperous future
with a happy ending.
38Every evil sinner will be destroyed, obliterated.
They’ll be utter failures with no future!
39But the Lord will be the Savior of all who love him.
Even in their time of trouble, God will live in them as strength.
40Because of their faith in him, their daily portion will be
a Father’s help and deliverance from evil.
This is true for all who turn to hide themselves in him!
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Psalms 37: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 37
37
Delight Yourself in the Lord
(1 Kings 2:1–9)
Of David.#37:0 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
1Do not fret over those who do evil;
do not envy those who do wrong.
2For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender plants.
3Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the Lord,
and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will do it.
6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday sun.
7Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when men prosper in their ways,
when they carry out wicked schemes.
8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath;
do not fret—it can only bring harm.
9For the evildoers will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11But the meek will inherit the land #37:11 Or the earth; see Matthew 5:5.
and delight in abundant prosperity.
12The wicked scheme against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them,
13but the Lord laughs,
seeing that their day is coming.
14The wicked have drawn the sword
and bent the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16Better is the little of the righteous
than the abundance of many who are wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their inheritance will last forever.
19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed,
and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
20But the wicked and enemies of the Lord
will perish like the glory of the fields.
They will vanish;
like smoke they will fade away.
21The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous are gracious and giving.
22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land,
but the cursed will be destroyed.
23The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord
who takes delight in his journey.
24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
for the Lord is holding his hand.#37:24 Or upholds him with His hand
25I once was young and now am old,
yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26They are ever generous and quick to lend,
and their children are a blessing.
27Turn away from evil and do good,
so that you will abide forever.
28For the Lord loves justice
and will not forsake His saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.
29The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.
32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
and seek to slay them,
33the Lord will not leave them in their power
or let them be condemned under judgment.
34Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
and He will raise you up to inherit the land.
When the wicked are cut off,
you will see it.
35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man
flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
36yet he passed away and was no more;
though I searched, he could not be found.
37Consider the blameless and observe the upright,
for posterity awaits the man of peace.#37:37 Or for there is a future for the man of peace
38But the transgressors will all be destroyed;
the future of the wicked will be cut off.
39The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40The Lord helps and delivers them;
He rescues and saves them from the wicked,
because they take refuge in Him.
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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.