Psalm 37:19-40

Common English Bible

¹⁹They won’t be ashamed in troubling times,
    and in a period of famine they will eat their fill.
²⁰But the wicked will die,
    the Lord’s enemies will disappear—
    disappear like the beauty of a meadow—in smoke.
²¹The wicked borrow and don’t pay it back, but the righteous are generous and giving.
²²Those blessed by God will possess the land,
    but those cursed by God will be cut off.

²³A person’s steps are made secure by the Lord
    when they delight in his way.
²⁴Though they trip up, they won’t be thrown down,
    because the Lord holds their hand.
²⁵I was young and now I’m old,
    but I have never seen the righteous left all alone,
    have never seen their children begging for bread.
²⁶They are always gracious and generous.
    Their children are a blessing.

²⁷Turn away from evil! Do good!
    Then you will live in the land forever.
²⁸The Lord loves justice.
    He will never leave his faithful all alone.
    They are guarded forever,
        but the children of the wicked are eliminated.
²⁹The righteous will possess the land;
    they will live on it forever.

³⁰The mouths of the righteous recite wisdom;
    their tongues discuss justice.
³¹The Instruction of their God is in their hearts;
    they don’t miss a step.
³²The wicked, on the other hand, target the righteous,
    seeking to kill them.
³³But the Lord won’t leave the righteous
    to the power of the wicked,
    and won’t let the righteous
    be found guilty when they are judged.

³⁴Hope in the Lord and keep his way!
    He will lift you up so you can possess the land.
        When the wicked are eliminated,
        you will see it for yourself!
³⁵I myself have seen wicked powerful people,
    exalting themselves like a stately cedar.^[a]
³⁶But when I^[b] came back, they were gone!
    I looked all over for them,
    but they couldn’t be found!

³⁷Observe those who have integrity
    and watch those whose heart is right
    because the future belongs to persons of peace.
³⁸But wrongdoers will be destroyed all together;
    the future of the wicked will be cut short.
³⁹The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their refuge in times of trouble.
⁴⁰The Lord will help them and rescue them—
    rescue them from the wicked—and he will save them
    because they have taken refuge in him.