Psalms 37:12-39

¹²The wicked plots against the righteous, snarls like a wild animal;

¹³the Lord laughs, for he sees that his day is coming.

¹⁴The wicked have drawn the sword, and bent the bow, to fell the poor, to slay those who walk uprightly;

¹⁵but their sword will pierce their own heart, and their bows will be broken in pieces.

¹⁶Better is the righteous person's little than the wealth of many wicked.

¹⁷For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

¹⁸The Lord watches over the days of the blameless, their heritage will continue forever.

¹⁹They will not be shamed in the evil time, in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

²⁰Because the wicked will perish: but the foes of the Lord, like a brand in the oven, will vanish, like smoke they will vanish.

²¹The wicked must borrow and cannot pay back, but the righteous is lavish and gives.

²²For those blest by the Lord inherit the land, while those whom he curses will be cut off.

²³The Lord supports the steps of those with whom he is pleased.

²⁴Though they fall, they will not be cast headlong, for the Lord holds their hands.

²⁵Never, from youth to age, have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread.

²⁶They are ever lavishly lending, and their children are fountains of blessing.

²⁷Turn away from evil and do good and you will live in the land forever.

²⁸For the Lord loves justice, he does not forsake his friends. The unrighteous will be destroyed forever, and the seed of the wicked will be cut off.

²⁹But the land will belong to the righteous, they will live upon it forever,

³⁰The mouth of the righteous murmurs wisdom, and words of justice are on their tongues.

³¹The law of their God is in their heart, their steps are never unsteady.

³²The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to put them to death.

³³But the Lord leaves them not in their hand: at their trial they will not be held guilty.

³⁴Wait on the Lord, and observe his way: he will lift you to honor the land will be yours, you will feast your eyes on the doom of the wicked.

³⁵I have seen the wicked exultant, lifting themselves like a cedar of Lebanon.

³⁶But the moment I passed, they vanished! I sought for them, but they could not be found.

³⁷Preserve your honor and practise uprightness, for such a person fares well in the end.

³⁸But transgressors will perish together. Cut off are the wicked forever.

³⁹The righteous are saved by the Lord, who in time of distress is their refuge: