1[By David.] Do not be preoccupied with evildoers. Do not envy those who do wicked things.

2They will quickly dry up like grass and wither away like green plants.

3Trust the LORD, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.

4Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Entrust your ways to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act [on your behalf].

6He will make your righteousness shine like a light, your just cause like the noonday sun.

7Surrender yourself to the LORD, and wait patiently for him. Do not be preoccupied with [an evildoer]who succeeds in his way when he carries out his schemes.

8Let go of anger, and leave rage behind. Do not be preoccupied. It only leads to evil.

9Evildoers will be cut off [from their inheritance], but those who wait with hope for the LORD will inherit the land.

10In a little while a wicked person will vanish. Then you can carefully examine where he was, but there will be no trace of him.

11Oppressed people will inherit the land and will enjoy unlimited peace.

12The wicked person plots against a righteous one and grits his teeth at him.

13The Lord laughs at him because he has seen that his time is coming.

14Wicked people pull out their swords and bend their bows to kill oppressed and needy people, to slaughter those who are decent.

15[But] their own swords will pierce their hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16The little that the righteous person has is better than the wealth of many wicked people.

17The arms of wicked people will be broken, but the LORD continues to support righteous people.

18The LORD knows the daily [struggles]of innocent people. Their inheritance will last forever.

19They will not be put to shame in trying times. Even in times of famine they will be satisfied.

20But wicked people will disappear. The LORD's enemies will vanish like the best part of a meadow. They will vanish like smoke.

21A wicked person borrows, but he does not repay. A righteous person is generous and giving.

22Those who are blessed by him will inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23A person's steps are directed by the LORD, and the LORD delights in his way.

24When he falls, he will not be thrown down headfirst because the LORD holds on to his hand.

25I have been young, and now I am old, but I have never seen a righteous person abandoned or his descendants begging for food.

26He is always generous and lends freely. His descendants are a blessing.

27Avoid evil, do good, and live forever.

28The LORD loves justice, and he will not abandon his godly ones. They will be kept safe forever, but the descendants of wicked people will be cut off.

29Righteous people will inherit the land and live there permanently.

30The mouth of the righteous person reflects on wisdom. His tongue speaks what is fair.

31The teachings of his God are in his heart. His feet do not slip.

32The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him.

33But the LORD will not abandon him to the wicked person's power or condemn him when he is brought to trial.

34Wait with hope for the LORD, and follow his path, and he will honor you by giving you the land. When wicked people are cut off, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked person [acting like] a tyrant, spreading himself out like a large cedar tree.

36But he moved on, and now there is no trace of him. I searched for him, but he could not be found.

37Notice the innocent person, and look at the decent person, because the peacemaker has a future.

38But rebels will be completely destroyed. The future of wicked people will be cut off.

39The victory for righteous people comes from the LORD. He is their fortress in times of trouble.

40The LORD helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from wicked people. He saves them because they have taken refuge in him.