Psalms 37

1 Do not [refrain from, cease] fret [be angry, incensed] over those who do [commit, practice] evil [wrong, injustice]; do not [stop, refrain from] envy [be jealous of, resent] those who do [perform, carry out] wrong [iniquity, unrighteousness]. word study 2 For [because of their wickedness] they wither [like grass that is cut down, quickly fade away] quickly like [tender, new] grass and wilt [lose their vigor, become weak] like [young, green] tender plants. word study 3 Trust [have faith, rely on] in the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and do [accomplish, practice] good [what is righteous, beneficial]; dwell [reside, abide] in the land [the earth, a country] and cultivate [nurture, feed on] faithfulness [loyalty, trustworthiness]. word study 4 Delight [find happiness, be pleased] yourself in the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and He will give [bestow, grant] you the desires [petitions, deepest longings] of your heart [innermost being, mind and emotions]. word study 5 Commit [entrust, roll upon] your way [path, journey, manner of life] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; trust [have faith, confidence] in Him [the divine Person], and He [the Almighty] will do [bring to pass, accomplish] it [the desired outcome, His will]. word study 6 He will bring forth [make visible, reveal] your righteousness [innocence, moral integrity] like the dawn [light, morning sun], your justice [vindication, rightness] like the noonday [midday, brightest time] sun. word study 7 Be still [rest, silent, in quiet trust] before the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and wait patiently [in hopeful expectation, with endurance] for Him; do not fret [be angry, anxious, or envious] when men prosper [succeed, achieve their goals] in their ways [paths, journeys, or manner of life], when they carry out [accomplish, bring to pass] wicked [evil, unjust, or unrighteous] schemes [plots, plans, or devices]. word study 8 Refrain [cease, desist] from anger [intense rage, wrath] and abandon [forsake, loosen] wrath [burning fury, intense anger]; do not [certainly not] fret [be incensed, get mad]—it can only [surely, undoubtedly] bring [lead to, result in] harm [evil, evil-doing]. word study 9 For [because of this reason] the evildoers [those who practice wickedness, do evil] will be cut off [destroyed, eliminated], but those who hope [wait patiently, trust] in the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of covenant faithfulness] will inherit [possess, take ownership of] the land [the earth, a promised territory]. word study 10 Yet [for a short time, in a little while] a little [small amount of time, brief period] while, and the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] will be no more [will not exist, will disappear]; though you look [diligently consider, search] for them, they will not be found [will not be present, will not exist]. word study 11 But the meek [poor, humble, afflicted] will inherit [possess, take control of] the land [earth, territory] and delight [be soft, happy, luxurious] in abundant [great, plentiful] prosperity [peace, shalom, completeness]. word study 12 The [morally wrong, guilty of sin] wicked [plotters, schemers] scheme [plot, devise evil] against the [just, upright, made right with God] righteous and gnash [grind, rub together in anger] their teeth [in frustration, with contempt] at them [in hostility, with malice], word study 13 but the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] laughs [in contempt, with derision], seeing that their day [of judgment, of reckoning] is coming [approaching, drawing near]. word study 14 The wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] have drawn the sword [a cutting instrument, for battle] and bent the bow [a weapon for hunting or war] to bring down [to cause to fall, to defeat] the poor [afflicted, humble] and needy [in need of help, oppressed], to slay [to slaughter, to kill ruthlessly] those whose ways [path, manner of life] are upright [straight, just, righteous]. word study 15 But their swords [cutting instruments, knives] will pierce [enter into, slice through] their own hearts [inner being, feelings, will], and their bows [weapons] will be broken [shattered, ruptured]. word study 16 Better [more desirable, pleasing] is the little [a small amount, few possessions] of the righteous [just, upright, having God’s nature] than the abundance [wealth, riches, a large amount] of many [a multitude, a great number] who are wicked [morally wrong, guilty, sinful]. word study 17 For [because of this reason] the arms [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] will be broken [shattered, ruptured], but the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] upholds [supports, sustains] the righteous [just, made right with God, having God’s nature]. word study 18 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] knows [to ascertain by seeing, to learn] the days [a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time] of the blameless [unblemished, perfect, having integrity], and their inheritance [something passed down, a gift from God] will last [exist forever, endure] forever [always, for eternity]. word study 19 In the [perilous, evil] time [of adversity, distress] of evil they will not be [put to, confounded with] ashamed, and in the days [days of hardship, when all are in need of food] of [severe lack of, great] famine they will be [completely, abundantly] satisfied. word study 20 But the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] and enemies [those who oppose or hate] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will perish [be destroyed, lost] like the glory [beauty, preciousness] of the fields [the beautiful wild flowers]. They will vanish [consume away, disappear]; like smoke [the fleeting nature of earthly things] they will fade away [be burned up, consumed]. word study 21 The wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] borrow [take money with obligation] and do not [absent, without] repay [make peace, settle debt], but the righteous [just, upright] are gracious [showing kindness, favor] and giving [generously, willingly]. word study 22 Surely those He blesses [with divine favor, having God’s approval] will inherit [possess, take control of] the land [earth, territory], but the cursed [reviled, cut off from God’s presence] will be destroyed [cut off, removed from existence]. word study 23 The steps [path, journey, pace] of a man [great man] are ordered [established, set up] by the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] who takes delight [is pleased, has pleasure] in his journey [way, path, manner of life]. word study 24 Though he falls [stumble, trips up], he will not be overwhelmed [utterly cast down], for the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is holding [supporting, upholding] his hand [with strength and direction]. word study 25 I once was [in my youth, a young person] young and now am [grown old, advanced in years] old, yet never have I seen the [just, upright, righteous person] righteous [not forsaken, nor abandoned] abandoned or their [offspring, descendants, seed] children [needing to, having to] begging for [sustenance, nourishment] bread. word study 26 They are ever [all the day long, constantly] generous [dealing graciously, showing kindness] and quick to lend [ready to have mercy, giving loans], and their children [seed, offspring] are a [true, divine] blessing [enjoying the blessing, prospering]. word study 27 Turn away [depart, flee] from evil [bad, morally wrong] and do [make, perform] good [pleasant, beneficial], so that you will abide [dwell, live securely] forever [always, to the age]. word study 28 For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] loves [has affection for, delights in] justice [righteous judgment] and will not [under no circumstances] forsake [abandon, loosen] His saints [pious ones, faithful followers]. They are preserved [kept safe, protected] forever [for all eternity, always], but the offspring [seed, descendants] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty ones] will be cut off [destroyed, eliminated]. word study 29 The [upright, godly] righteous [having God’s nature, being just] will [take control of, possess] inherit [own, have as a heritage] the land [earth, territory, country] and dwell [live, stay, reside] in it [upon it, on it] forever [for eternity, perpetually]. word study 30 The mouth [lip, edge of speech] of the righteous [just, having God’s nature] man utters [to mutter, ponder] wisdom [skill, prudence, good judgment], and his tongue [language, speech] speaks [to communicate, declare] justice [judgment, righteousness, what is fair]. word study 31 The law [instruction, divine guidance] of his God [Elohim, the one supreme God] is in his heart [the center of feelings, will, and intellect]; his steps [the act of walking, progress] do not [absolutely not, under no circumstances] falter [to slip, waver, or slide]. word study 32 Though the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] lie in wait [watching, observing] for the righteous [just, made right with God], and seek [search for, intend to] to slay [kill, put to death] them [the upright, those who do good], word study 33 the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will not leave them in their power [hand] or let them be condemned [found guilty, judged wickedly] under judgment [when being evaluated, during the time of vindication]. word study 34 Wait [be patient, trust] for the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and keep [obey, protect] His way [path, manner of life], and He will raise [exalt, lift up] you up to inherit [possess, take control of] the land [earth, territory]. When the wicked [morally wrong, guilty] are cut off [destroyed, removed], you will see [look, perceive] it. word study 35 I have seen [with my own eyes, observed] a wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin], ruthless [inspiring fear, awe] man [human being, individual] flourishing [prospering, thriving] like a well-rooted [stable, firmly established] native [born in the land, indigenous] tree [green and growing, luxuriant], word study 36 yet he [suddenly, without warning] passed away [came to an end, was gone] and was no more [nothing, nonexistent]; though I [diligently, with effort] searched [looked carefully, sought], he could not be found [was not discovered, nowhere to be seen]. word study 37 Consider [mark, give attention to] the blameless [perfect, complete] and observe [see, look after] the upright [just, righteous], for posterity [the end, future] awaits [is reserved for] the man [individual, person] of peace [shalom, completeness and wellness]. word study 38 But the transgressors [those who rebel against God, sinners] will all be destroyed [annihilated, cut off from existence]; the future [end, latter days] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] will be cut off [removed, eliminated, destroyed]. word study 39 The salvation [deliverance, rescue] of the righteous [upright, just] is from the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; He is their stronghold [security, fortified place] in time [season, occasion] of trouble [distress, adversity]. word study 40 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] helps [to aid, assist, or support] and delivers [to rescue, set free] them; He rescues [to save from harm or danger] and saves [to preserve, keep safe] them from the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin], because they take refuge [to trust, seek protection] in Him [having faith, trusting in His power]. word study