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Psalm 37-40
English Standard Version
Psalm 37-40
English Standard Version
He Will Not Forsake His Saints
[a] Of David.
37 (A)Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not (B)envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon (C)fade like (D)the grass
and wither (E)like the green herb.
3 (F)Trust in the Lord, and do good;
(G)dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[b]
4 (H)Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will (I)give you the desires of your heart.
5 (J)Commit your way to the Lord;
(K)trust in him, and he will act.
6 (L)He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as (M)the noonday.
7 (N)Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
(O)fret not yourself over the one who (P)prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 (Q)Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
(R)Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 (S)For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall (T)inherit the land.
10 In (U)just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at (V)his place, he will not be there.
11 But (W)the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in (X)abundant peace.
12 The wicked (Y)plots against the righteous
and (Z)gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord (AA)laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his (AB)day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and (AC)bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose (AD)way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their (AE)bows shall be broken.
16 (AF)Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For (AG)the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord (AH)upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord (AI)knows the days of the blameless,
and their (AJ)heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in (AK)the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like (AL)the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like (AM)smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous (AN)is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord[c] shall (AO)inherit the land,
but those cursed by him (AP)shall be cut off.
23 The (AQ)steps of a man are (AR)established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 (AS)though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord (AT)upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children (AU)begging for bread.
26 He is ever (AV)lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
27 (AW)Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you (AX)dwell forever.
28 For the Lord (AY)loves justice;
he will not forsake his (AZ)saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be (BA)cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and (BB)dwell upon it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 (BC)The law of his God is in his heart;
his (BD)steps do not slip.
32 The wicked (BE)watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not (BF)abandon him to his power
or let him (BG)be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 (BH)Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on (BI)when the wicked are cut off.
35 (BJ)I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like (BK)a green laurel tree.[d]
36 But he passed away,[e] and behold, (BL)he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of (BM)peace.
38 But (BN)transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked (BO)shall be cut off.
39 (BP)The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in (BQ)the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and (BR)delivers them;
(BS)he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they (BT)take refuge in him.
Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord
A Psalm of David, (BU)for the memorial offering.
38 O Lord, (BV)rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your (BW)arrows have sunk into me,
and your hand (BX)has come down on me.
3 There is (BY)no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my (BZ)bones
because of my sin.
4 For my (CA)iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
6 I am (CB)utterly bowed down and (CC)prostrate;
all the day I (CD)go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
and there is (CE)no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
I (CF)groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my (CG)sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and (CH)the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My (CI)friends and companions (CJ)stand aloof from my (CK)plague,
and my nearest kin (CL)stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life (CM)lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt (CN)speak of ruin
and meditate (CO)treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
like (CP)a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
and in whose mouth are no (CQ)rebukes.
15 But for (CR)you, O Lord, do I wait;
it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only (CS)let them not rejoice over me,
who (CT)boast against me when my (CU)foot slips!”
17 For I am (CV)ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18 I (CW)confess my iniquity;
I am (CX)sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me (CY)wrongfully.
20 Those who (CZ)render me evil for good
(DA)accuse me because I (DB)follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not (DC)far from me!
22 (DD)Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my (DE)salvation!
What Is the Measure of My Days?
To the choirmaster: to (DF)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
39 I said, “I will (DG)guard my ways,
that I (DH)may not sin with my tongue;
I will (DI)guard my mouth with a muzzle,
so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
2 I was (DJ)mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
3 My (DK)heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “O Lord, (DL)make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and (DM)my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely (DN)all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
6 Surely a man (DO)goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing[f] they are in turmoil;
man (DP)heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
(DQ)My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.
(DR)Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
9 (DS)I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
(DT)for it is you who have done it.
10 (DU)Remove your stroke from me;
I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
11 When you discipline a man
with (DV)rebukes for sin,
you (DW)consume like a (DX)moth what is dear to him;
(DY)surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
12 (DZ)“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and give ear to my cry;
hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am (EA)a sojourner with you,
(EB)a guest, like all my fathers.
13 (EC)Look away from me, that I may smile again,
(ED)before I depart and (EE)am no more!”
My Help and My Deliverer
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
40 I (EF)waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and (EG)heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from (EH)the pit of destruction,
out of (EI)the miry bog,
and (EJ)set my feet upon a rock,
(EK)making my steps secure.
3 He put (EL)a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will (EM)see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who (EN)makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who (EO)go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your (EP)wondrous deeds and your (EQ)thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are (ER)more than can be told.
6 (ES)In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open (ET)ear.[g]
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written (EU)of me:
8 (EV)I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is (EW)within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[h]
in (EX)the great congregation;
behold, I have not (EY)restrained my lips,
(EZ)as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your (FA)steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have (FB)encompassed me
beyond number;
my (FC)iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot (FD)see;
they are (FE)more than the hairs of my head;
my heart (FF)fails me.
13 (FG)Be pleased, O Lord, to (FH)deliver me!
O Lord, (FI)make haste to help me!
14 (FJ)Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be (FK)turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
who (FL)say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
(FM)say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am (FN)poor and needy,
but (FO)the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
Footnotes
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
- Psalm 37:3 Or and feed on faithfulness, or and find safe pasture
- Psalm 37:22 Hebrew by him
- Psalm 37:35 The identity of this tree is uncertain
- Psalm 37:36 Or But one passed by
- Psalm 39:6 Hebrew Surely as a breath
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew ears you have dug for me
- Psalm 40:9 Hebrew righteousness; also verse 10
Psalm 37-40
New International Version
Psalm 37-40
New International Version
Psalm 37[a]
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious(A) of those who do wrong;(B)
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,(C)
like green plants they will soon die away.(D)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land(E) and enjoy safe pasture.(F)
4 Take delight(G) in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.(H)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him(I) and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward(J) shine like the dawn,(K)
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still(L) before the Lord
and wait patiently(M) for him;
do not fret(N) when people succeed in their ways,(O)
when they carry out their wicked schemes.(P)
8 Refrain from anger(Q) and turn from wrath;
do not fret(R)—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,(S)
but those who hope(T) in the Lord will inherit the land.(U)
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(V)
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(W)
and enjoy peace and prosperity.(X)
12 The wicked plot(Y) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth(Z) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.(AA)
14 The wicked draw the sword(AB)
and bend the bow(AC)
to bring down the poor and needy,(AD)
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(AE)
and their bows will be broken.(AF)
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth(AG) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(AH)
but the Lord upholds(AI) the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(AJ)
and their inheritance will endure forever.(AK)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:(AL)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(AM)
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;(AN)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses(AO) will be destroyed.(AP)
23 The Lord makes firm the steps(AQ)
of the one who delights(AR) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(AS)
for the Lord upholds(AT) him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(AU)
or their children begging(AV) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(AW)
their children will be a blessing.[b](AX)
27 Turn from evil and do good;(AY)
then you will dwell in the land forever.(AZ)
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.(BA)
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[c];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.(BB)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(BC)
and dwell in it forever.(BD)
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(BE)
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(BF)
their feet do not slip.(BG)
32 The wicked lie in wait(BH) for the righteous,(BI)
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned(BJ) when brought to trial.(BK)
34 Hope in the Lord(BL)
and keep his way.(BM)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed,(BN) you will see(BO) it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing(BP) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.(BQ)
37 Consider the blameless,(BR) observe the upright;(BS)
a future awaits those who seek peace.[d](BT)
38 But all sinners(BU) will be destroyed;(BV)
there will be no future[e] for the wicked.(BW)
39 The salvation(BX) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(BY)
40 The Lord helps(BZ) them and delivers(CA) them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves(CB) them,
because they take refuge(CC) in him.
Psalm 38[f]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(CD)
2 Your arrows(CE) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(CF) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(CG) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(CH) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(CI)
5 My wounds(CJ) fester and are loathsome(CK)
because of my sinful folly.(CL)
6 I am bowed down(CM) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(CN)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(CO)
there is no health(CP) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(CQ)
I groan(CR) in anguish of heart.(CS)
9 All my longings(CT) lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing(CU) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(CV) my strength fails(CW) me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.(CX)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(CY)
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(CZ)
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(DA)
all day long they scheme and lie.(DB)
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(DC)
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(DD) for you;
you will answer,(DE) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(DF)
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(DG)
17 For I am about to fall,(DH)
and my pain(DI) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(DJ)
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(DK) without cause[g];
those who hate me(DL) without reason(DM) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(DN)
lodge accusations(DO) against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me;(DP)
do not be far(DQ) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(DR) to help me,(DS)
my Lord and my Savior.(DT)
Psalm 39[h]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(DU)
and keep my tongue from sin;(DV)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(DW)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(DX)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(DY) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(DZ) within me.
While I meditated,(EA) the fire(EB) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(EC)
let me know how fleeting(ED) my life is.(EE)
5 You have made my days(EF) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(EG)
even those who seem secure.[i]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(EH) like a mere phantom;(EI)
in vain they rush about,(EJ) heaping up wealth(EK)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(EL)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(EM)
8 Save me(EN) from all my transgressions;(EO)
do not make me the scorn(EP) of fools.
9 I was silent;(EQ) I would not open my mouth,(ER)
for you are the one who has done this.(ES)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(ET) of your hand.(EU)
11 When you rebuke(EV) and discipline(EW) anyone for their sin,
you consume(EX) their wealth like a moth(EY)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(EZ)
12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;(FA)
do not be deaf(FB) to my weeping.(FC)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(FD)
a stranger,(FE) as all my ancestors were.(FF)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”(FG)
Psalm 40[j](FH)
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently(FI) for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.(FJ)
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(FK)
out of the mud(FL) and mire;(FM)
he set my feet(FN) on a rock(FO)
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song(FP) in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(FQ)
and put their trust(FR) in him.
4 Blessed is the one(FS)
who trusts in the Lord,(FT)
who does not look to the proud,(FU)
to those who turn aside to false gods.[k](FV)
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders(FW) you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare(FX) with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many(FY) to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(FZ)
but my ears you have opened[l]—(GA)
burnt offerings(GB) and sin offerings[m] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[n](GC)
8 I desire to do your will,(GD) my God;(GE)
your law is within my heart.”(GF)
9 I proclaim your saving acts(GG) in the great assembly;(GH)
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.(GI)
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness(GJ) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.(GK)
11 Do not withhold your mercy(GL) from me, Lord;
may your love(GM) and faithfulness(GN) always protect(GO) me.
12 For troubles(GP) without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.(GQ)
They are more than the hairs of my head,(GR)
and my heart fails(GS) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.(GT)
14 May all who want to take my life(GU)
be put to shame and confusion;(GV)
may all who desire my ruin(GW)
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(GX)
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you(GY)
rejoice and be glad(GZ) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”(HA)
Footnotes
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 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
- Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
- Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
- Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
- Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
- Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
- Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
- Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.