English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!

1Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.

2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

2For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

3Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

4Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

5Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

6He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

7Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

8Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.

9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

9For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

10Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.

11But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

11The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.

12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,

12The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

13But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;

14The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.

15their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

15But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

16Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.

16It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.

17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

17For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly.

18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;

18Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.

19they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.

19They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

20But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

20But the wicked will die. The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke.

21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

21The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

22for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

22Those the LORD blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die.

23The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

23The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

24Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.

25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

25Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

26He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

26The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.

27Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.

27Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.

28For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

28For the LORD loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die.

29The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

29The godly will possess the land and will live there forever.

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

30The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.

31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

31They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path.

32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.

32The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.

33The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

33But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

34Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

34Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

35I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.

36But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

36But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

37Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.

38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

38But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.

39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

39The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

40The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.