Psalm 37
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.
do not envy those who do wrong.
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.
dwell in the land and live securely.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act,
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.
trust in Him, and He will act,
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.
7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.
8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
9 For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
9 For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.
though you look for him, he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.
12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.
13 The Lord laughs at him
because He sees that his day is coming.
and gnashes his teeth at him.
13 The Lord laughs at him
because He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 The little that the righteous man has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord supports the righteous.
than the abundance of many wicked people.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord supports the righteous.
18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.
and their inheritance will last forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.
20 But the wicked will perish;
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.
21 The wicked man borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.
22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,
but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.
22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,
but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.
23 A man’s steps are established by the Lord,
and He takes pleasure in his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand.
and He takes pleasure in his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do what is good,
and dwell there forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon His faithful ones.
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it permanently.
and dwell there forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon His faithful ones.
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it permanently.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.
his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.
32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and seeks to kill him;
33 the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.
and seeks to kill him;
33 the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.
35 I have seen a wicked, violent man
well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.
36 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.
well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.
36 Then I passed by and noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the man of peace will have a future.
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.
for the man of peace will have a future.
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future of the wicked will be destroyed.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.
40 The Lord helps and delivers them;
He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in Him.
their refuge in a time of distress.
40 The Lord helps and delivers them;
He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in Him.
Key: Bold - Verse of the Day
Reflection: We are not of this world. The Lord has placed us here in enemy territory to be a witness, to be a light, to be the salt of the earth so that we may be vessels through which He can bring sight to the spiritual blind, that they may see, repent and be saved. Although the wicked seem to succeed, they are eventually cut off and are no more. When we are surrounded by evil, we need to pray and wait. The Lord will deliver us!
Discussion Topic: God tells us that we're going to inherit the land, but while we wait, we have to exist in enemy territory with those who have given their loyalty to the Deceiver. True born again believers are belittled, ridiculed, brought before the court, tortured and even killed. What do you think is the most important thing we can do while we await the Bridegroom's return?
Prayer: Oh my heavenly Father, I pray for those who do not yet know of your love and mercy, your grace and forgiveness. They are influenced by the enemy and have hardened their heart against the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I know that we are in a spiritual battle, and I pray for those I know and love; that You would soften their heart and prepare their mind so that as they see You through me and my other brothers and sisters, they will become more open to that small still Voice that leads them to salvation through Jesus Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Acknowledgements: Text - BibleGateway.com, Artwork - P.Graham Dunn
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