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
The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked
A Psalm of David.
1Do#Ps. 73:3; (Prov. 23:17; 24:19) not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2For they shall soon be cut down #Job 14:2; Ps. 90:5, 6; 92:7; James 1:11like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
3Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4#Job 22:26; Ps. 94:19; Is. 58:14Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your #Ps. 21:2; 145:19; (Matt. 7:7, 8)heart.
5#(Ps. 55:22; Prov. 16:3; 1 Pet. 5:7)Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
6#Job 11:17; (Is. 58:8, 10)He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
7Rest in the Lord, #Ps. 40:1; 62:5; (Lam. 3:26)and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who #(Ps. 73:3–12)prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8#(Eph. 4:26)Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
#Ps. 73:3Do not fret—it only causes harm.
9For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall #Ps. 25:13; Prov. 2:21; (Is. 57:13; 60:21; Matt. 5:5)inherit the earth.
10For #(Heb. 10:37)yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, #Job 7:10; Ps. 37:35, 36you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11#(Matt. 5:5)But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12The wicked plots against the just,
#Ps. 35:16And gnashes at him with his teeth.
13#Ps. 2:4; 59:8The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that #1 Sam. 26:10; Job 18:20his day is coming.
14The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.
16#Prov. 15:16; 16:8; (1 Tim. 6:6)A 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 forever.
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,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.
21The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But #Ps. 112:5, 9the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22#(Prov. 3:33)For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23#(1 Sam. 2:9); Ps. 40:2; 66:9; 119:5The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24#Prov. 24:16Though 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 I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
26#(Deut. 15:8); Ps. 37:21He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
27Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
28For the Lord loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29#Ps. 37:9; Prov. 2:21The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.
30#(Matt. 12:35)The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
32The wicked #Ps. 10:8; 17:11watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
33The Lord #Ps. 31:8; (2 Pet. 2:9)will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
34#Ps. 27:14; 37:9Wait 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 native green tree.
36Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
37Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace.
38#(Ps. 1:4–6; 37:20, 28)But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength #Ps. 9:9; 37:19in the time of trouble.
40And #Ps. 22:4; Is. 31:5; Dan. 3:17; 6:23the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
#1 Chr. 5:20; Ps. 34:22Because they trust in Him.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.