Psalms 37
37
The Protection of the Righteous and the Destruction of the Wicked
Of David.#The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
1Do not fret because of evildoers;
do not be envious of doers of wickedness.
2For like the grass they will dry up quickly,
and like green vegetation they will wither.
3Trust Yahweh and do good.
Abide in the land and feed on faithfulness.#That is, God’s faithfulness
4Take pleasure in Yahweh as well,
and he will give to you the requests of your heart.
5Commit to#Literally “Roll upon” Yahweh your way;
Trust also on him and he will act.
6Then he will bring forth your righteousness like the light,
and your justice like the noonday.
7Be quiet before Yahweh and wait for him.
Do not fret about one who succeeds in his way,
about a man making plots.
8Refrain from anger and forsake wrath.
Do not fret; it only brings evil.
9For evildoers will be cut off,
but those who wait for Yahweh—
they will possess the land.
10And#Or “But” yet a little while and the wicked will not be,
and you will look carefully upon his place, but he will not be.
11But the afflicted will possess the land,
and they will take pleasure in an abundance of peace.
12The wicked plans evil against the righteous,
and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13The Lord laughs at him,
for he sees that his day is coming.
14The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow
to throw down the poor and the needy,
to kill those upright in their way.
15Their sword will enter into their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16The little belonging to the righteous is better
than the wealth of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but Yahweh supports the righteous.
18Yahweh knows the days of the blameless,
and their inheritance will be forever.
19They will not be put to shame in distressing times,#Hebrew “time”
and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
20But the wicked will perish,
and the enemies of Yahweh will be like the splendor of the pastures.
They vanish; in smoke they vanish.
21The wicked borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous is gracious and gives.
22For those blessed by him shall possess the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23The steps of a man are established by Yahweh,
and he takes pleasure in his way.
24Though he fall, he will not be cast headlong,
for Yahweh supports him with his hand.
25I was a youth, but I am now old;
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for#Literally “searching” bread.
26All the day he is gracious and lends,
and his children are a blessing.
27Turn aside from evil and do good
and so abide forever.
28For Yahweh loves justice
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They are protected forever.
But the children of the wicked will be cut off.
29The righteous will possess the land
and abide in it forever.
30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31The law of his God is in his heart.
His steps will not slip.
32The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to kill him.
33Yahweh will not abandon him into his hand,
and he will not let him be condemned when he is judged.
34Wait for Yahweh and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to possess the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35I have seen the wicked acting violently
and spreading himself out
like a luxuriant native tree.
36Then he passed on#Dead Sea Scrolls and the versions read “I passed by” and behold, he was not.
And I sought him, but he could not be found.
37Observe the blameless and look at the upright,
for there is a future for a man of peace.
38But transgressors shall be destroyed altogether.
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39And#Some manuscripts omit “and,” preserving the acrostic the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh,
their refuge in the time of trouble.
40And Yahweh helps them and he rescues them.
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 37: LEB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
Psalm 37
37
A Psalm of David.
א Aleph
1Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
ב Bet
3Trust in the LORD, and do good;
So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4Delight thyself also in the LORD;
And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
ג Gimel
5Commit thy way unto the LORD; Trust also in him;
And he shall bring it to pass.
6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light,
And thy judgment as the noonday.
ד Dalet
7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
ה He
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9For evildoers shall be cut off:
But those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
ו Waw
10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
Yea, thou shalt 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.
ז Zain
12The wicked plotteth against the just,
And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13The Lord shall laugh at him:
For he seeth that his day is coming.
ח Het
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.
ט Tet
16A little that a righteous man hath is better
Than the riches of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken:
But the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
י Yod
18The LORD knoweth 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.
כ Kaph
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.
ל Lamed
21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again:
But the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;
And they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
מ Mem
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:
And he delighteth in his way.
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
For the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
נ Nun
25I have been young, and now am old;
Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth;
And his seed is blessed.
ס Samek
27Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell for evermore.
28For the LORD loveth judgment,
ע Ain
And forsaketh 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.
פ Pe
30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
And his tongue talketh of judgment.
31The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.
צ Zade
32The wicked watcheth the righteous,
And seeketh to slay him.
33The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.
ק Qoph
34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land:
When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
ר Resh
35I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:
Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
ש Shin
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.
ת Taw
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Rights in the Authorized (King James) Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Published by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Learn More About King James Version