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Psalms

A collection of songs and prayers expressing a wide range of emotions and thoughts on faith.

Chapter 37

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1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

*Don't worry about wicked people, and don't envy those who do wrong things.

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

*They will soon be gone like grass, and dry up like green plants.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

*Trust in God and do what is right. This will let you live safely and you will have enough to eat.

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

*Enjoy yourself by being close to God, and He will fulfill your heart's true wishes.

5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

*Put your life in God's hands; also rely on him; and he will make it happen.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

*He will show your fairness like sunlight and your decisions like bright daylight.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

*Relax and trust in God, be patient and don't worry about those who seem to be doing well or causing harm with their wrongful plans.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

*Stop being angry and leave anger behind; don't worry about doing bad things.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

*Evil doers will be eliminated, but those who patiently trust in the Lord will own the Earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

*In a short time, the bad people won't exist. You should think carefully about their place, and it will disappear too.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

*But gentle people will own the Earth, and they'll enjoy lots of peace.

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

*The evil person plans to harm the righteous and bites at them angrily.

13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

*God will laugh at the person because He knows their judgment day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

*The bad people have taken out their sword and made their bow ready to hurt the weak and those who don't have much, and to kill those who do good things.

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

*Their sword will hurt them from within, and their bow will break.

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

*It's better to have a little bit belonging to a good person than lots of wealth owned by bad people.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

*The wicked's power will fail, but the Lord supports those who are good.

18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

*The Lord knows the days of the righteous people, and they will have their land forever.

19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

*In difficult times, they won't feel embarrassed; during food shortages, they will be full.

20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

*The bad people will disappear, and the LORD's enemies will be like lamb fat: they will be destroyed; turning them into smoke will destroy them completely.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

*The bad person borrows but doesn't repay; the good person is kind and gives.

22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

*People blessed by him will own the earth, but those he curses will be removed.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

*A good person's path is guided by God, and he enjoys walking that path.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

*Even if someone stumbles, they won't be completely defeated because the Lord supports them with His hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

*I was once young, now I'm old; still, I haven't seen righteous people abandoned or their children without food.

26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

*He always shows mercy and gives help; his children are blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

*Leave wrongdoing and do what's right; live forever in peace.

28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

*The LORD loves fairness and never leaves his good people. They are always protected. However, the descendants of bad people will be removed.

29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

*The good people will own the land and live there forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

*The righteous person's mouth talks about wise things, and their tongue discusses fairness.

31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

*God's law lives in his heart, so he won't slip up in what he does.

32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

*The bad person watches the good person and tries to kill them.

33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

*God won't abandon him in trouble, or convict him during judgment.

34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

*Wait for God, follow His path, and He will lift you up to possess the land; this will happen when the evil people are eliminated.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

*I saw the bad people with lots of power, acting as if they were a huge, growing tree.

36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

*He disappeared and couldn't be found, even though I searched for him diligently.

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

*Find the truly good person and see the honest one; because the outcome for that person is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

*But those who break rules will be destroyed together; the wicked's time will end.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

*But true people's rescue comes from God: He is their power when things are hard.

40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

*And the Lord will aid them and rescue them. He will rescue them from evil people and save them because they rely on Him.

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