Psalms 37:16-31

¹⁶It's better to do right and only have a little, than to be wicked and rich.

¹⁷For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports those who do right.

¹⁸The Lord knows what is happening to the innocent and grants them an eternal inheritance.

¹⁹They will not be humiliated in bad times; even in days of famine they will have plenty to eat.

²⁰But the wicked will die. The enemies of the Lord are like the flowers of the field—they will vanish like smoke.

²¹The wicked borrow, but don't repay; while those who do right give generously.

²²Those who are blessed by God will own the land, but those he curses will die.

²³The Lord shows the right path to those who follow him, and is happy with the way they live.

²⁴Though they may trip up, they will not fall to the ground, for the Lord holds their hand.

²⁵Once I was young, and now I've grown old, yet I've never seen those who do right abandoned, nor their children having to beg for bread.

²⁶They are always kind, and generous with their loans; their children are a blessing.

²⁷Reject evil, do what is good, and you will live forever in the land.

²⁸For the Lord loves fairness and he will never abandon those who are trustworthy. He will protect them forever. But the children of the wicked will die.

²⁹Those who do right will own the land and will live there forever.

³⁰People who do right give good advice, explaining what is fair.

³¹God's law lives in their minds, so they will not slip from his way.