A song by David.

37 א (Alef)

37 Don’t be irritated by those who do evil.

≈ Don’t be envious of those who do what is wrong,

2 because they’ll soon dry up like the grass

≈ and wither as the green plants.

ב (Beyt)

3 Trust in Yahweh and do what is good.

Settle in the land and appreciate faithfulness.

4 Then delight yourself in Yahweh,

and he’ll give you what you really desire.

ג (Gimel)

5 Give your path to Yahweh.

Trust in him, and he’ll act on your behalf.

6 He’ll display your justice like the daylight

≈ and your innocence like the day at noon.

ד (Dalet)

7 Be still in front of Yahweh and wait patiently for him.

Don’t be angry if others succeed in what they do,

or when they make evil plots.

ה (He)

8 Don’t be angry and frustrated.

Don’t be a worrier—that only makes trouble.

9 Those who do evil will be eliminated,

but those who strive to obey Yahweh will end up owning the land.

ו (Vav)

10 In a little while the evil people will disappear.

You’ll look at the place where they were, but they’ll be gone.

11 But the meek will inherit the land

and will delight in great prosperity.

ז (Zayin)

12 The wicked people plot against the righteous

≈ and grind their teeth in rage against them.

13 My master laughs at them,

because he knows that their day is coming.

ח (Het)

14 The wicked have drawn out their swords and have bent their bows

to bring the oppressed and needy down—

yes, to kill those who are godly.

15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

ט (Tet)

16 It’s better to do right and only have a little,

than to be wicked and rich,

17 because the arms of the wicked people will be broken,

but Yahweh supports people who are righteous.

י (Yod)

18 Yahweh keeps an eye on those who are blameless,

and they won’t lose their inheritance.

19 They won’t be shamed when times are bad.

When famine comes, they’ll have enough to eat,

כ (Kaf)

20 because evil people will die.

Yahweh’s enemies will be like the fleeting beauty of the fields—

they’ll be consumed and disappear in the smoke.

ל (Lamed)

21 Wicked people borrow but never repay,

but the godly person is generous and gives.

22 Those who are blessed by God will own the land,

but those who are cursed by him will be wiped out.

מ (Mem)

23 It is by Yahweh that a person’s steps are established,

and he takes pleasure in observing their path.

24 Even if they stumble, they won’t fall on their face,

because Yahweh is right there helping them.

נ (Nun)

25 I was young and now I’m old

and I’ve never seen the righteous person abandoned

or their children out begging for food.

26 All day long, they’re gracious and lend to those more needy,

and their children become a blessing to others.

ס (Samek)

27 Turn away from evil and do what is right.

Then you will go on living,

28 because Yahweh loves justice and doesn’t abandon those who are faithful to him.

They’re preserved forever, but the descendants of wicked people will be eliminated.

ע (Ayin)

29 The godly people will inherit the land

≈ and always live there.

פ (Pe)

30 Godly people expound wisdom

≈ and promote justice.

31 God’s law is always on their minds.

Their feet won’t slip.

צ (Tsade)

32 The wicked person watches the righteous

and seeks to kill them.

33 Yahweh won’t abandon them into the evil person’s hand

or condemn them when they’re judged.

ק (Qof)

34 Wait for Yahweh and stay on the path he showed you,

then he’ll assist you to possess the land he promised.

You’ll see those who are wicked get eliminated.

ר (Resh)

35 I’ve seen a wicked and terrifying person

spreading out like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

36 However, when I passed by again, they weren’t there.

≈ I looked for them, but they couldn’t be found.

ש (Sin/Shin)

37 Observe the person of integrity, and notice those who are godly.

There’s a good future for a peaceful person.

38 Sinners will be totally destroyed;

≈ The future will be cut off for wicked people.

ת (Tav)

39 Yahweh is the one who saves godly people.

≈ He protects them in the times of trouble.

40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them.

He rescues them from evil people and saves them

because they’ve gone to him as a place of safety.