Psalms 37:12-40

37:12 Evil men plot against the godly

and viciously attack them.

37:13 The Lord laughs in disgust at them,

for he knows that their day is coming.

37:14 Evil men draw their swords

and prepare their bows,

to bring down the oppressed and needy,

and to slaughter those who are godly.

37:15 Their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

37:16 The little bit that a godly man owns is better than

the wealth of many evil men,

37:17 for evil men will lose their power,

but the Lord sustains the godly.

37:18 The Lord watches over the innocent day by day

and they possess a permanent inheritance.

37:19 They will not be ashamed when hard times come;

when famine comes they will have enough to eat.

37:20 But evil men will die;

the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated –

they will go up in smoke.

37:21 Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,

but the godly show compassion and are generous.

37:22 Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land,

but those rejected by him will be wiped out.

37:23 The Lord grants success to the one

whose behavior he finds commendable.

37:24 Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong,

for the Lord holds his hand.

37:25 I was once young, now I am old.

I have never seen a godly man abandoned,

or his children forced to search for food.

37:26 All day long he shows compassion and lends to others,

and his children are blessed.

37:27 Turn away from evil! Do what is right!

Then you will enjoy lasting security.

37:28 For the Lord promotes justice,

and never abandons his faithful followers.

They are permanently secure,

but the children of evil men are wiped out.

37:29 The godly will possess the land

and will dwell in it permanently.

37:30 The godly speak wise words

and promote justice.

37:31 The law of their God controls their thinking;

their feet do not slip.

37:32 Evil men set an ambush for the godly

and try to kill them.

37:33 But the Lord does not surrender the godly,

or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.

37:34 Rely on the Lord! Obey his commands!

Then he will permit you to possess the land;

you will see the demise of evil men.

37:35 I have seen ruthless evil men

growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.

37:36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared!

I looked for them, but they could not be found.

37:37 Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly!

For the one who promotes peace has a future.

37:38 Sinful rebels are totally destroyed;

evil men have no future.

37:39 But the Lord delivers the godly;

he protects them in times of trouble.

37:40 The Lord helps them and rescues them;

he rescues them from evil men and delivers them,

for they seek his protection.