Psalm 37

Exhortation to Patience and Trust

Of David.
¹Do not fret because of the wicked;
   do not be envious of wrongdoers,
²for they will soon fade like the grass,
   and wither like the green herb.

³Trust in the Lord, and do good;
   so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
⁴Take delight 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 act.
⁶He will make your vindication shine like the light,
   and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

⁷Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
   do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
   over those who carry out evil devices.

⁸Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
   Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹For the wicked shall be cut off,
   but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

¹⁰Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;
   though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
¹¹But the meek shall inherit the land,
   and delight in abundant prosperity.

¹²The wicked plot against the righteous,
   and gnash their teeth at them;
¹³but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
   for he sees that their day is coming.

¹⁴The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
   to bring down the poor and needy,
   to kill those who walk uprightly;
¹⁵their sword shall enter their own heart,
   and their bows shall be broken.

¹⁶Better is a little that the righteous person has
   than the abundance 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 blameless,
   and their heritage will abide for ever;