Instruction in Wisdom

Davidic.

1Doa not be agitated by evildoers;

do not envy those who do wrong.b

2For they wither quickly like grass

and wilt like tender green plants.c

3Trust in the LORD and do what is good;d

dwell in the land and live securely.e, f

4Take delight in the LORD,

and He will give you your heart’s desires.g

5Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in Him, and He will act,h

6making your righteousness shine like the dawn,

your justice like the noonday.i

7Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him;j

do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,

by the man who carries out evil plans.k

8Refrain from anger and give up your rage;

do not be agitated — it can only bring harm.l

9For evildoers will be destroyed,

but those who put their hope in the LORD

will inherit the land.m, n

10A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;

though you look for him, he will not be there.o

11But the humble will inherit the landp, q

and will enjoy abundant prosperity.r

12The wicked person schemes against the righteous

and gnashes his teeth at him.s

13The Lord laughs at himt

because He sees that his day is coming.u

14The wicked have drawn the sword and strung thev bow

to bring down the afflicted and needy

and to slaughter those whose way is upright.w

15Their swords will enter their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.x

16The little that the righteous man has is better

than the abundance of many wicked people.y

17For the armsz of the wicked will be broken,aa

but the LORD supports the righteous.ab

18The LORD watches over the blameless all their days,

and their inheritance will last forever.ac

19They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;

they will be satisfied in days of hunger.ad

20But the wicked will perish;

the LORD’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,

will fade away —

they will fade away like smoke.ae

21The wicked man borrows and does not repay,

but the righteous one is gracious and giving.af

22Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,ag

but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.ah

23A man’s steps are established by the LORD,

and He takes pleasure in his way.ai

24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,

because the LORD holds his hand.aj, ak

25I have been young and now I am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned

or his children begging for bread.al

26He is always generous, always lending,

and his children are a blessing.am

27Turn away from evil and do what is good,

and dwell therean forever.ao

28For the LORD loves justice

and will not abandon His faithful ones.ap

They are kept safe forever,

but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.aq

29The righteous will inherit the landar

and dwell in it permanently.as

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;

his tongue speaks what is just.at

31The instruction of his God is in his heart;

his steps do not falter.au

32The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous

and seeks to kill him;av

33the LORD will not leave him

in the power of the wicked one

or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.aw

34Wait for the LORD and keep His way,

and He will exalt you to inherit the land.

You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.ax

35I have seen a wicked, violent man

well-rooteday like a flourishing native tree.az

36Then I passed by andba noticed he was gone;

I searched for him, but he could not be found.bb

37Watch the blameless and observe the upright,

for the man of peace will have a future.bc, bd

38But transgressors will all be eliminated;

the futurebe of the wicked will be destroyed.bf

39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD,

their refuge in a time of distress.bg

40The LORD helps and delivers them;

He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them

because they take refuge in Him.bh