37:1 By David. Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers!
37:2 For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.
37:3 Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
37:4 Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers.
37:5 Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
37:6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.
37:7 Wait patiently for the LORD! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!
37:8 Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
37:9 Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the LORD are the ones who will possess the land.
37:10 Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.
37:11 But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.
37:12 Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.
37:13 The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming.
37:14 Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly.
37:15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,
37:17 for evil men will lose their power, but the LORD sustains the godly.
37:18 The LORD watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance.
37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.
37:20 But evil men will die; the LORD's enemies will be incinerated--they will go up in smoke.
37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.
37:22 Surely those favored by the LORD will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out.
37:23 The LORD grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.
37:24 Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the LORD holds his hand.
37:25 I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.
37:26 All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.
37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security.
37:28 For the LORD promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.
37:29 The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.
37:30 The godly speak wise words and promote justice.
37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.
37:32 Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them.
37:33 But the LORD does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.
37:34 Rely on the LORD! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.
37:35 I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.
37:36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.
37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! For the one who promotes peace has a future.
37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.
37:39 But the LORD delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble.
37:40 The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek his protection.
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