Do Not Fret because of Evildoers
By David.
1 Do not fret because of evildoers,
nor be envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Dwell in the land, and you shall indeed be fed.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord.
Trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass:
6 he will make your righteousness shine out like the dawn
and your justice like the noonday sun.
7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him.
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath.
Do not fret, which only leads to harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more.
Indeed, though you search for his place, he shall not be there.
11 But the humble shall inherit the earth
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plot against the just
and gnash at him with their teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at them,
for he sees that their day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn their sword
and have bent their bow,
to cast down the poor and needy,
to slay those who are upright in conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart.
Their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is a little that the righteous have,
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord watches over the upright, every day of their life.
Their inheritance shall endure forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in times of adversity.
In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish.
The enemies of the Lord will be like the beauty of the pastures.
They will vanish—
vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not pay back,
but the righteous give generously.
22 For those who are blessed by him shall inherit the earth.
Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
He delights in his way.
24 Though he may fall, he shall not be utterly cast down,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and am now old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his descendants begging for bread.
26 He is always generous and lending.
His descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good.
And live forevermore.
28 For the Lord loves justice,
and does not forsake his saints.
They are protected forever,
but the children of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the earth,
and live in it forever.
30 The mouth of the godly utters wisdom.
His tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart.
None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watch the righteous,
and seek to kill him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand,
nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Wait for the Lord, and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to possess the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
36 But he passed away, and he was not.
Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Take note of the man of integrity, and observe the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together.
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord.
He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them.
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them,
because they have taken refuge in him.