Song (Psalm) 37

A song by David.

For David; A psalm of David.; Of David.

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.