Psalms 37

1A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath.

1 Do not be angry because of the wrongdoers, or have envy of the workers of evil.

2Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.

2For they will quickly be cut down like grass, and become dry like the green plants.

3For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon me.

3Have faith in the Lord, and do good; be at rest in the land, and go after righteousness.

4There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins.

4So will your delight be in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.

5For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me.

5Put your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in him and he will do it.

6My sores are putrefied and corrupted, because of my foolishness.

6And he will make your righteousness be seen like the light, and your cause like the shining of the sun.

7I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long.

7Take your rest in the Lord, waiting quietly for him; do not be angry because of the man who does well in his evil ways, and gives effect to his bad designs.

8For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh.

8Put an end to your wrath and be no longer bitter; do not give way to angry feeling which is a cause of sin.

9I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart.

9For the evil-doers will be cut off: but those who have faith in the Lord will have the earth for their heritage.

10Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hidden from thee.

10For in a short time the evil-doer will be gone: you will go searching for his place, and it will not be there.

11My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me.

11But the gentle will have the earth for their heritage; they will take their delight in peace without measure.

12My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off:

12The sinner has evil designs against the upright, lifting up the voice of wrath against him.

13And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long.

13He will be laughed at by the Lord, who sees that his day is coming.

14But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth.

14The evil-doers have taken out their swords, their bows are bent; for crushing the poor, and to put to death those who are upright in their ways.

15And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth.

15But their swords will be turned into their hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God.

16The little which the good man has is better than the wealth of evil-doers.

17For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me.

17For the arms of the evil-doers will be broken: but the Lord is the support of the good.

18For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me.

18The days of the upright are numbered by the Lord, and their heritage will be for ever.

19For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin.

19They will not be shamed in the evil time, and in the days when all are in need of food they will have enough.

20But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20But the wrongdoers will come to destruction, and the haters of the Lord will be like the fat of lambs, they will be burned up; they will go up in smoke, and never again be seen.

21They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.

21The sinner takes money and does not give it back; but the upright man has mercy, and gives to others.

22For sake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me.

22Those who have his blessing will have the earth for their heritage; but those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.

23The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight in his way.

24(not in this translation)

24Even if he has a fall he will not be without help: for the hand of the Lord is supporting him.

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25I have been young, and now am old, but I have not seen the good man without help, or his children looking for bread.

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26All the day he is ready to have mercy and to give; his children are a blessing.

27(not in this translation)

27Be turned from evil, and do good; and your place will be for ever.

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28For the Lord is a lover of righteousness, and takes care of his saints; they will be kept safe for ever; but the seed of the evil-doers will be cut off.

29(not in this translation)

29The upright will have the earth for their heritage, and will go on living there for ever.

30(not in this translation)

30The mouth of the good man says words of wisdom; the talk of his tongue is of righteousness.

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31The law of his God is in his heart; he will never make a false step.

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32The sinners are watching the upright man, desiring to put him to death.

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33The Lord will not give him into their hands, or be against him when he is judged.

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34Be waiting for the Lord, and keep his way; and you will be lifted up, and have the land for your heritage: when the evil-doers are cut off, you will see it.

35(not in this translation)

35I have seen the evil-doer in great power, covering the earth like a great tree.

36(not in this translation)

36But he came to an end, and there was no sign of him; I made a search for him and he was not there.

37(not in this translation)

37Give attention to the good man, and take note of the upright; because the end of that man is peace.

38(not in this translation)

38But as for the sinners, they will be cut off together; the end of the wrongdoers is destruction.

39(not in this translation)

39But the Lord is the saviour of the upright: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

40(not in this translation)

40And the Lord will be their help, and keep them safe: he will take them out of the hands of the evil-doers, and be their saviour, because they had faith in him.