Mayim's Song - Psalm 37

(1) Of David. Do not be vexed by evil men; do not be incensed by wrongdoers; (2) for they soon wither like grass, like verdure fade away. (3) Trust in the LORD and do good, abide in the land and remain loyal. (4) Seek the favor of the LORD, and He will grant you the desires of your heart. (5) Leave alla Lit. “your way.” to the LORD; trust in Him; He will do it. (6) He will cause your vindication to shine forth like the light, the justice of your case, like the noonday sun. (7) Be patient and wait for the LORD, do not be vexed by the prospering man who carries out his schemes. (8) Give up anger, abandon fury, do not be vexed; it can only do harm. (9) For evil men will be cut off, but those who look to the LORD— they shall inherit the land. (10) A little longer and there will be no wicked man; you will look at where he was—he will be gone. (11) But the lowly shall inherit the land, and delight in abundant well-being. (12) The wicked man schemes against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him. (13) The Lord laughs at him, for He knows that his day will come. (14) The wicked draw their swords, bend their bows, to bring down the lowly and needy, to slaughter bLit. “those whose way is upright.”upright men.-b (15) Their swords shall pierce their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken. (16) Better the little that the righteous man has than the great abundance of the wicked. (17) For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD is the support of the righteous. (18) The LORD is concerned for the needscLit. “days.” of the blameless; their portion lasts forever; (19) they shall not come to grief in bad times; in famine, they shall eat their fill. (20) But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be consumed, like meadow grassdMeaning of Heb. uncertain. consumed in smoke. (21) The wicked man borrows and does not repay; the righteous is generous and keeps giving. (22) Those blessed by Him shall inherit the land, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off. (23) The steps of a man are made firm by the LORD, when He delights in his way. (24) Though he stumbles, he does not fall down, for the LORD gives him support. (25) I have been young and am now old, but I have never seen a righteous man abandoned, or his children seeking bread. (26) He is always generous, and lends, and his children are held blessed. (27) Shun evil and do good, and you shall abide forever. (28) For the LORD loves what is right, He does not abandon His faithful ones. They are preserved forever, while the children of the wicked will be cut off. (29) The righteous shall inherit the land, and abide forever in it. (30) The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is right. (31) The teaching of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. (32) The wicked watches for the righteous, seeking to put him to death; (33) the LORD will not abandon him to his power; He will not let him be condemned in judgment. (34) Look to the LORD and keep to His way, and He will raise you high that you may inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. (35) I saw a wicked man, powerful, well-rooted like a robust native tree. (36) Suddenly he vanished and was gone; I sought him, but he was not to be found. (37) Mark the blameless, note the upright, for there is a future for the man of integrity. (38) But transgressors shall be utterly destroyed, the future of the wicked shall be cut off. (39) The deliverance of the righteous comes from the LORD,their stronghold in time of trouble. (40) The LORD helps them and rescues them, rescues them from the wicked and delivers them, for they seek refuge in Him.

(1) A song of praise. Of David.

I will extol You, my God and king,
and bless Your name forever and ever. (2) Every day will I bless You
and praise Your name forever and ever. (3) Great is the LORD and much acclaimed;
His greatness cannot be fathomed. (4) One generation shall laud Your works to another
and declare Your mighty acts. (5) The glorious majesty of Your splendor
aA Qumran Pss. scroll reads: “they will speak of, and Your wonders.”and Your wondrous acts-a will I recite. (6) Men shall talk of the might of Your awesome deeds,
and I will recount Your greatness. (7) They shall celebrate Your abundant goodness,
and sing joyously of Your beneficence. (8) The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness. (9) The LORD is good to all,
and His mercy is upon all His works. (10) All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
and Your faithful ones shall bless You. (11) They shall talk of the majesty of Your kingship,
and speak of Your might, (12) to make His mighty acts known among men
and the majestic glory of His kingship. (13) Your kingship is an eternal kingship;
Your dominion is for all generations. (14) The LORD supports all who stumble,
and makes all who are bent stand straight. (15) The eyes of all look to You expectantly,
and You give them their food when it is due. (16) You give it openhandedly,
feeding every creature to its heart’s content. (17) The LORD is beneficent in all His ways
and faithful in all His works. (18) The LORD is near to all who call Him,
to all who call Him with sincerity. (19) He fulfills the wishes of those who fear Him;
He hears their cry and delivers them. (20) The LORD watches over all who love Him,
but all the wicked He will destroy. (21) My mouth shall utter the praise of the LORD,
and all creaturesbLit. “flesh.” shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

(1) Of David, aCf. 1 Sam. 21.14 ff.when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who turned him out, and he left.-a (2) I bless the LORD at all times;
praise of Him is ever in my mouth. (3) I glory in the LORD;
let the lowly hear it and rejoice. (4) Exalt the LORD with me;
let us extol His name together. (5) I turned to the LORD, and He answered me;
He saved me from all my terrors. (6) Men look to Him and are radiant;
let their faces not be downcast. (7) Here was a lowly man who called,
and the LORD listened,
and delivered him from all his troubles. (8) The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him
and rescues them. (9) Taste and see how good the LORD is;
happy the man who takes refuge in Him! (10) Fear the LORD, you His consecrated ones,
for those who fear Him lack nothing. (11) Lions have been reduced to starvation,
but those who turn to the LORD shall not lack any good. (12) Come, my sons, listen to me;
I will teach you what it is to fear the LORD. (13) Who is the man who is eager for life,
who desires years of good fortune? (14) Guard your tongue from evil,
your lips from deceitful speech. (15) Shun evil and do good,
seek amitybOr “integrity.” and pursue it. (16) The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
His ears attentive to their cry. (17) The face of the LORD is set against evildoers,
to erase their names from the earth. (18) TheycViz., the righteous of v. 16. cry out, and the LORD hears,
and saves them from all their troubles. (19) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
those crushed in spirit He delivers. (20) Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many,
the LORD will save him from them all, (21) Keeping all his bones intact,
not one of them being broken. (22) One misfortune is the deathblow of the wicked;
the foes of the righteous shall be ruined. (23) The LORD redeems the life of His servants;
all who take refuge in Him shall not be ruined.

(1) A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd;
I lack nothing. (2) He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me to aOthers “still waters.”water in places of repose;-a (3) He renews my life;
He guides me in right paths
as befits His name. (4) Though I walk through bOthers “the valley of the shadow of death.”a valley of deepest darkness,-b
I fear no harm, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
(5) You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my drink is abundant. (6) Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for many long years.