| 37:1 |
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; |
| 37:2 |
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. |
| 37:3 |
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. |
| 37:4 |
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. |
| 37:5 |
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: |
| 37:6 |
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. |
| 37:7 |
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. |
| 37:8 |
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. |
| 37:9 |
For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. |
| 37:10 |
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. |
| 37:11 |
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. |
| 37:12 |
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; |
| 37:13 |
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. |
| 37:14 |
The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. |
| 37:15 |
But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. |
| 37:16 |
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; |
| 37:17 |
for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. |
| 37:18 |
The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. |
| 37:19 |
In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. |
| 37:20 |
But the wicked will perish: The LORD'S enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke. |
| 37:21 |
The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; |
| 37:22 |
those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off. |
| 37:23 |
If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; |
| 37:24 |
though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. |
| 37:25 |
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. |
| 37:26 |
They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. |
| 37:27 |
Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. |
| 37:28 |
For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; |
| 37:29 |
the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. |
| 37:30 |
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. |
| 37:31 |
The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. |
| 37:32 |
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; |
| 37:33 |
but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial. |
| 37:34 |
Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. |
| 37:35 |
I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, |
| 37:36 |
but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. |
| 37:37 |
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. |
| 37:38 |
But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. |
| 37:39 |
The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. |
| 37:40 |
The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. |
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