Chapter 37
The Fate of Sinners and the Reward of the Just
1Of David.
ALEPH
Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong. a Prv 3, 31; 23, 17; 24, 1. 24, 19 . 2Like grass they wither quickly; like green plants they wilt away. b Pss 90, 5–6; 102, 12; 103, 15–16; Jb 14, 2; Is 40, 7 .
BETH
3Trust in the LORD and do good that you may dwell in the land* and live secure. c Ps 128, 2 . 4Find your delight in the LORD who will give you your heart's desire. d Prv 10, 24 .
GIMEL
5Commit your way to the LORD; trust that God will act e Ps 55, 23; Prv 3, 5; 16, 3 . 6And make your integrity shine like the dawn, your vindication like noonday. f Wis 5, 6; Is 58, 10 .
DALETH
7Be still before the LORD;wait for God. Do not be provoked by the prosperous,nor by malicious schemers.
HE
8Give up your anger, abandon your wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm. 9Those who do evil will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will possess the land. g Ps 25, 13; Prv 2, 21; Is 57, 13 .
WAW
10Wait a little, and the wicked will be no more; look for them and they will not be there. 11But the poor will possess the land, h Mt 5, 4 . will delight in great prosperity.
ZAYIN
12The wicked plot against the just and grind their teeth at them; 13But the LORD laughs at them, i Pss 2, 4; 59, 9; Wis 4, 18 . knowing their day is coming.
HETH
14The wicked draw their swords; they string their bows To fell the poor and oppressed, to slaughter those whose way is honest. j Pss 11, 2; 57, 5; 64, 4 . 15Their swords will pierce their own hearts; their bows will be broken.
TETH
16Better the poverty of the just than the great wealth of the wicked. k Prv 15, 16; 16, 8 . 17The arms of the wicked will be broken; the LORD will sustain the just.
YODH
18The LORD watches over the days of the blameless; their heritage lasts forever. 19They will not be disgraced when times are hard; in days of famine they will have plenty.
KAPH
20The wicked perish, the enemies of the LORD; Like the beauty of meadows they vanish; like smoke they disappear. l Wis 5, 14 .
LAMEDH
21The wicked borrow but do not repay; the just are generous in giving. 22For those blessed by the Lord will possess the land, but those accursed will be cut off.
MEM
23Those whose steps are guided by the LORD; m Prv 20, 24 . whose way God approves, 24May stumble, but they will never fall, for the LORD holds their hand.
NUN
25Neither in my youth, nor now in old age have I ever seen the just abandoned n Jb 4, 7; Sir 2, 10 . or their children begging bread. 26The just always lend generously, and their children become a blessing.
SAMEKH
27Turn from evil and do good, that you may inhabit the land forever. o Ps 34, 14–15; Am 5, 14 . 28For the LORD loves justice and does not abandon the faithful.
AYIN
When the unjust are destroyed, and the children of the wicked cut off, 29The just will possess the land and live in it forever. p Ps 25, 13; Prv 2, 21; Is 57, 13 .
PE
30The mouths of the just utter wisdom; q Prv 10, 31 . their tongues speak what is right. 31God's teaching is in their hearts; r Ps 40, 9; Dt 6, 6; Is 51, 7; Jer 31, 33 . their steps do not falter.
SADHE
32The wicked spy on the just and seek to kill them. 33But the LORD does not leave the just in their power, nor let them be condemned when tried.
QOPH
34Wait eagerly for the LORD, and keep to the way; s Ps 31, 24 . God will raise you to possess the land; you will gloat when the wicked are cut off.
RESH
35I have seen ruthless scoundrels, strong as flourishing cedars. t Ps 92, 8–9; Is 2, 13; Ez 31, 10–11 . 36When I passed by again, they were gone; though I searched, they could not be found.
SHIN
37Observe the honest, mark the upright; those at peace with God have a future. u Prv 23, 18; 24, 14 . 38But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
TAW
39The salvation of the just is from the LORD, their refuge in time of distress. v Ps 9, 10; Is 25, 4 . 40The LORD helps and rescues them, rescues and saves them from the wicked, because in God they take refuge.
Notes:
a: Prv 3, 31; 23, 17; 24, 1. 24, 19 .
b: Pss 90, 5–6; 102, 12; 103, 15–16; Jb 14, 2; Is 40, 7 .
e: Ps 55, 23; Prv 3, 5; 16, 3 .
g: Ps 25, 13; Prv 2, 21; Is 57, 13 .
i: Pss 2, 4; 59, 9; Wis 4, 18 .
p: Ps 25, 13; Prv 2, 21; Is 57, 13 .
r: Ps 40, 9; Dt 6, 6; Is 51, 7; Jer 31, 33 .