📖 Psalms 37
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By David. Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers!
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For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.
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Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
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Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers.
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Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
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He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.
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Wait patiently for the LORD! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!
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Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
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Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the LORD are the ones who will possess the land.
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10
Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.
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But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.
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12
Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.
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13
The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming.
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14
Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly.
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Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
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16
The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,
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for evil men will lose their power, but the LORD sustains the godly.
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The LORD watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance.
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They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.
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But evil men will die; the LORD’s enemies will be incinerated– they will go up in smoke.
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Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.
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Surely those favored by the LORD will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out.
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23
The LORD grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.
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Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the LORD holds his hand.
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I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.
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All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.
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Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security.
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For the LORD promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.
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The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.
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The godly speak wise words and promote justice.
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The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.
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32
Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them.
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But the LORD does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.
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Rely on the LORD! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.
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I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.
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But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.
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37
Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the upright! For the one who promotes peace has a future.
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38
Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.
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39
But the LORD delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble.
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40
The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek his protection.