Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
1Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. | 1By David. Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers! |
2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. | 2For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants. |
3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. | 3Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! |
4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. | 4Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers. |
5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. | 5Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. |
6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. | 6He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause. |
7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. | 7Wait patiently for the LORD! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes! |
8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. | 8Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble! |
9For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. | 9Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the LORD are the ones who will possess the land. |
10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. | 10Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone. |
11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity. | 11But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity. |
12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, | 12Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them. |
13but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. | 13The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming. |
14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. | 14Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly. |
15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. | 15Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. |
16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. | 16The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men, |
17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. | 17for evil men will lose their power, but the LORD sustains the godly. |
18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever. | 18The LORD watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance. |
19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied. | 19They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat. |
20But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away. | 20But evil men will die; the LORD's enemies will be incinerated--they will go up in smoke. |
21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. | 21Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous. |
22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed. | 22Surely those favored by the LORD will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out. |
23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. | 23The LORD grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable. |
24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. | 24Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the LORD holds his hand. |
25I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. | 25I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food. |
26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing. | 26All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed. |
27Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever. | 27Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security. |
28For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off. | 28For the LORD promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out. |
29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. | 29The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently. |
30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. | 30The godly speak wise words and promote justice. |
31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. | 31The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip. |
32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, | 32Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them. |
33the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment. | 33But the LORD does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law. |
34Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. | 34Rely on the LORD! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men. |
35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, | 35I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. |
36yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. | 36But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found. |
37Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace. | 37Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! For the one who promotes peace has a future. |
38But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. | 38Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future. |
39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. | 39But the LORD delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble. |
40The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him. | 40The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek his protection. |
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