Psalm 37 :: New International Version (NIV)

Psa 37:1

Psa 37:1 [fn]Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;

Psa 37:2

Psa 37:2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Psa 37:3

Psa 37:3Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Psa 37:4

Psa 37:4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psa 37:5

Psa 37:5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

Psa 37:6

Psa 37:6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Psa 37:7

Psa 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psa 37:8

Psa 37:8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Psa 37:9

Psa 37:9For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Psa 37:10

Psa 37:10A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

Psa 37:11

Psa 37:11But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Psa 37:12

Psa 37:12The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;

Psa 37:13

Psa 37:13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

Psa 37:14

Psa 37:14The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

Psa 37:15

Psa 37:15But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Psa 37:16

Psa 37:16Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;

Psa 37:17

Psa 37:17for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

Psa 37:18

Psa 37:18The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.

Psa 37:19

Psa 37:19In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

Psa 37:20

Psa 37:20But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

Psa 37:21

Psa 37:21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

Psa 37:22

Psa 37:22those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.

Psa 37:23

Psa 37:23The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

Psa 37:24

Psa 37:24though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Psa 37:25

Psa 37:25I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

Psa 37:26

Psa 37:26They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.[fn]

Psa 37:27

Psa 37:27Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.

Psa 37:28

Psa 37:28For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[fn]; the offspring of the wicked will perish.

Psa 37:29

Psa 37:29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

Psa 37:30

Psa 37:30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.

Psa 37:31

Psa 37:31The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.

Psa 37:32

Psa 37:32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;

Psa 37:33

Psa 37:33but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

Psa 37:34

Psa 37:34Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

Psa 37:35

Psa 37:35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

Psa 37:36

Psa 37:36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

Psa 37:37

Psa 37:37Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.[fn]

Psa 37:38

Psa 37:38But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future[fn] for the wicked.

Psa 37:39

Psa 37:39The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

Psa 37:40

Psa 37:40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(37:1)

This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

(37:26)

Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed

(37:28)

See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever

(37:37)

Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity

(37:38)

Or posterity

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.