Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
1Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. | 1Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. |
2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. | 2For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. |
3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. | 3Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. |
4Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. | 4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. |
5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. | 5Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. |
6He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun. | 6He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. |
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. | 7Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. |
8Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. | 8Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. |
9For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. | 9For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD 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. | 10Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. |
11But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity. | 11The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity. |
12The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, | 12The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. |
13but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. | 13But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment 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. | 14The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. |
15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. | 15But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. |
16Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. | 16It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. |
17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. | 17For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly. |
18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever. | 18Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. |
19In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied. | 19They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. |
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 the wicked will die. The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke. |
21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. | 21The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. |
22Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed. | 22Those the LORD blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die. |
23The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey. | 23The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. |
24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. | 24Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. |
25I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread. | 25Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. |
26They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing. | 26The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing. |
27Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever. | 27Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever. |
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 loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die. |
29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. | 29The godly will possess the land and will live there forever. |
30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. | 30The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. |
31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter. | 31They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path. |
32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them, | 32The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them. |
33the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment. | 33But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial. |
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. | 34Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed. |
35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, | 35I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. |
36yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found. | 36But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them! |
37Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace. | 37Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace. |
38But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. | 38But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future. |
39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble. | 39The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress 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, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him. |
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