Psalm 37:1-40 AMP

[1] Do not worry because of evildoers, Nor be envious toward wrongdoers; [2] For they will wither quickly like the grass, And fade like the green herb. [3] Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness. [4] Delight yourself in the LORD, And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. [5] Commit your way to the LORD; Trust in Him also and He will do it. [6] He will make your righteousness [your pursuit of right standing with God] like the light, And your judgment like [the shining of] the noonday [sun]. [7] Be still before the LORD; wait patiently for Him and entrust yourself to Him; Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. [8] Cease from anger and abandon wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evil. [9] For those who do evil will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. [10] For yet a little while and the wicked one will be gone [forever]; Though you look carefully where he used to be, he will not be [found]. [11] But the humble will [at last] inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity and peace. [12] The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth. [13] The Lord laughs at him [the wicked one—the one who oppresses the righteous], For He sees that his day [of defeat] is coming. [14] The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To cast down the afflicted and the needy, To slaughter those who are upright in conduct [those with personal integrity and godly character]. [15] The sword [of the ungodly] will enter their own heart, And their bow will be broken. [16] Better is the little of the righteous [who seek the will of God] Than the abundance (riches) of many wicked (godless). [17] For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the LORD upholds and sustains the righteous [who seek Him]. [18] The LORD knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will continue forever. [19] They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty and be satisfied. [20] But the wicked (ungodly) will perish, And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures and like the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke], They vanish—like smoke they vanish away. [21] The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives. [22] For those blessed by God will [at last] inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be cut off. [23] The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the LORD, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path]. [24] When he falls, he will not be hurled down, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand and sustains him. [25] I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous (those in right standing with God) abandoned Or his descendants pleading for bread. [26] All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing. [27] Depart from evil and do good; And you will dwell [securely in the land] forever. [28] For the LORD delights in justice And does not abandon His saints (faithful ones); They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will [in time] be cut off. [29] The righteous will inherit the land And live in it forever. [30] The mouth of the righteous proclaims wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice and truth. [31] The law of his God is in his heart; Not one of his steps will slip. [32] The wicked lies in wait for the righteous And seeks to kill him. [33] The LORD will not leave him in his hand Or let him be condemned when he is judged. [34] Wait for and expect the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; [In the end] when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. [35] I have seen a wicked, violent man [with great power] Spreading and flaunting himself like a cedar in its native soil, [36] Yet he passed away, and lo, he was no more; I sought him, but he could not be found. [37] Mark the blameless man [who is spiritually complete], and behold the upright [who walks in moral integrity]; There is a [good] future for the man of peace [because a life of honor blesses one’s descendants]. [38] As for transgressors, they will be completely destroyed; The future of the wicked will be cut off. [39] But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their refuge and stronghold in the time of trouble. [40] The LORD helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, Because they take refuge in Him.