[1] Of David. Do not be angry because of the wrongdoers, or have envy of
the workers of evil. [2] For they will quickly be cut down like grass, and
become dry like the green plants. [3] Have faith in the Lord, and do good;
be at rest in the land, and go after righteousness. [4] So will your
delight be in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. [5] Put
your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in him and he will do it.
[6] And he will make your righteousness be seen like the light, and your
cause like the shining of the sun. [7] Take your rest in the Lord, waiting
quietly for him; do not be angry because of the man who does well in his
evil ways, and gives effect to his bad designs. [8] Put an end to your
wrath and be no longer bitter; do not give way to angry feeling which is a
cause of sin. [9] For the evil-doers will be cut off: but those who have
faith in the Lord will have the earth for their heritage. [10] For in a
short time the evil-doer will be gone: you will go searching for his place,
and it will not be there. [11] But the gentle will have the earth for their
heritage; they will take their delight in peace without measure. [12] The
sinner has evil designs against the upright, lifting up the voice of wrath
against him. [13] He will be laughed at by the Lord, who sees that his day
is coming. [14] The evil-doers have taken out their swords, their bows are
bent; for crushing the poor, and to put to death those who are upright in
their ways. [15] But their swords will be turned into their hearts, and
their bows will be broken. [16] The little which the good man has is better
than the wealth of evil-doers. [17] For the arms of the evil-doers will be
broken: but the Lord is the support of the good. [18] The days of the
upright are numbered by the Lord, and their heritage will be for ever. [19]
They will not be shamed in the evil time, and in the days when all are in
need of food they will have enough. [20] But the wrongdoers will come to
destruction, and the haters of the Lord will be like the fat of lambs, they
will be burned up; they will go up in smoke, and never again be seen. [21]
The sinner takes money and does not give it back; but the upright man has
mercy, and gives to others. [22] Those who have his blessing will have the
earth for their heritage; but those who are cursed by him will be cut off.
[23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he takes delight
in his way. [24] Even if he has a fall he will not be without help: for the
hand of the Lord is supporting him. [25] I have been young, and now am old,
but I have not seen the good man without help, or his children looking for
bread. [26] All the day he is ready to have mercy and to give; his children
are a blessing. [27] Be turned from evil, and do good; and your place will
be for ever. [28] For the Lord is a lover of righteousness, and takes care
of his saints; they will be kept safe for ever; but the seed of the
evil-doers will be cut off. [29] The upright will have the earth for their
heritage, and will go on living there for ever. [30] The mouth of the good
man says words of wisdom; the talk of his tongue is of righteousness. [31]
The law of his God is in his heart; he will never make a false step. [32]
The sinners are watching the upright man, desiring to put him to death.
[33] The Lord will not give him into their hands, or be against him when he
is judged. [34] Be waiting for the Lord, and keep his way; and you will be
lifted up, and have the land for your heritage: when the evil-doers are cut
off, you will see it. [35] I have seen the evil-doer in great power,
covering the earth like a great tree. [36] But he came to an end, and there
was no sign of him; I made a search for him and he was not there. [37] Give
attention to the good man, and take note of the upright; because the end of
that man is peace. [38] But as for the sinners, they will be cut off
together; the end of the wrongdoers is destruction. [39] But the Lord is
the saviour of the upright: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
[40] And the Lord will be their help, and keep them safe: he will take them
out of the hands of the evil-doers, and be their saviour, because they had
faith in him.
