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Psalms · Free Bible Version

Psalm 37 Free Bible Version

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  • Individual translator
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Dynamic (thought for thought)
  • 2018
  • CC BY-SA 4.0

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

Notes on this text (1)
FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 A psalm of David. Don't be upset over wicked people, or be jealous of those who do wrong.
1 By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
2 For like grass, they will quickly dry up; like plants, they will soon wither away.
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. Live in the land and feed on faithfulness.
3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Find your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you what you want the most.
4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Entrust all that you do to the Lord. Place your confidence in him and he will help you.
5 Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
6 He will make your vindication shine like a light, the rightness of your cause like the noonday sun.
6 he will make your righteousness shine out like light, and your justice as the noon day sun.
7 Be still in God's presence; wait patiently for him. Don't be upset over people who prosper when they carry out their evil schemes.
7 Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
8 Give up your anger! Let go of your rage! Don't get mad—it only results in evil!
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed, and those who trust in the Lord will take possession of the land.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
10 In a little while the wicked will be no more—though you look for them you won't find them.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
11 The humble will own the land; they will live there happily, in peace and prosperity.
11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plot evil against those who do good, gnashing their teeth at them.
12 The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 But the Lord laughs at them, for he sees their coming day of judgment.
13 The Lord will laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw their swords, and bend their bows to destroy the poor and needy, to kill those who live right.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.
15 But the swords of the wicked will slice through their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.
16 It's better to do right and only have a little, than to be wicked and rich.
16 Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord supports those who do right.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows what is happening to the innocent and grants them an eternal inheritance.
18 Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They will not be humiliated in bad times; even in days of famine they will have plenty to eat.
19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked will die. The enemies of the Lord are like the flowers of the field—they will vanish like smoke.
20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow, but don't repay; while those who do right give generously.
21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.
22 Those who are blessed by God will own the land, but those he curses will die.
22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The Lord shows the right path to those who follow him, and is happy with the way they live.
23 A man’s steps are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.
24 Though they may trip up, they will not fall to the ground, for the Lord holds their hand.
24 Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I've grown old, yet I've never seen those who do right abandoned, nor their children having to beg for bread.
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.
26 They are always kind, and generous with their loans; their children are a blessing.
26 All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.
27 Reject evil, do what is good, and you will live forever in the land.
27 Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
28 For the Lord loves fairness and he will never abandon those who are trustworthy. He will protect them forever. But the children of the wicked will die.
28 For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 Those who do right will own the land and will live there forever.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.
30 People who do right give good advice, explaining what is fair.
30 The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.
31 God's law lives in their minds, so they will not slip from his way.
31 The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked lie in wait for those who do good, intending to kill them.
32 The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.
33 But the Lord will not let them fall into the hands of the wicked, and he will not let those who do good be condemned when they are put on trial.
33 Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34 Trust in the Lord, and stay on his path. He will lift you up and give you the land to own. You will see when the wicked are destroyed.
34 Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have watched the wicked acting brutally, spreading like a large tree in its native land.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
36 But when I passed that way the next time, they were gone. I searched for them but couldn't find them.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Observe the innocent, look at those who do right! Those who love peace have a future!
37 Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But those who are rebellious will be altogether destroyed; the wicked have no future.
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The Lord saves those who live right; he is their protection in times of trouble.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and rescues them from the wicked. He saves them because they go to him for protection.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they have taken refuge in him.
Cross references (40)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Psalm 37:7; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:19; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 24:1
  2. 2 Psalm 92:7; Psalm 90:5–6; James 1:10–11; Psalm 37:35–36; Job 14:2
  3. 3 Jeremiah 17:7–8; Matthew 6:31–33; Psalm 62:8; 1 Corinthians 15:57–58; Psalm 34:9–10
  4. 4 John 15:7; Psalm 145:19; John 15:16; Isaiah 58:14; 1 John 5:14–15
  5. 5 Proverbs 16:3; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6–7; Matthew 6:25; Psalm 55:22
  6. 6 Isaiah 54:17; Job 11:17; Isaiah 58:8; Micah 7:8–9; Matthew 13:43
  7. 7 James 5:7–11; Psalm 27:14; Psalm 62:5; Hebrews 10:36–37; Lamentations 3:25–26
  8. 8 Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 16:32; James 1:19–20; Ephesians 4:31; Ephesians 4:26
  9. 9 Isaiah 60:21; Psalm 25:13; Proverbs 2:21; Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 57:13
  10. 10 Job 24:24; 1 Peter 4:7; Psalm 37:35–36; Psalm 107:42–43; Psalm 103:16
  11. 11 Matthew 5:5; Galatians 5:22–23; Isaiah 26:3; James 3:13; Psalm 119:165
  12. 12 Psalm 35:16; Micah 2:1; Daniel 8:12; Psalm 31:13; Matthew 26:16
  13. 13 Psalm 2:4; Proverbs 1:26; Daniel 5:26; 1 Samuel 26:10; Ezekiel 21:25
  14. 14 Proverbs 29:27; Psalm 11:2; 1 John 3:12; Proverbs 29:10; Psalm 64:2–6
  15. 15 Psalm 7:14–15; Psalm 35:8; Hosea 2:18; 1 Samuel 31:4; Jeremiah 51:56
  16. 16 Proverbs 16:8; Proverbs 15:16–17; 1 Timothy 6:6; Proverbs 13:25; Proverbs 3:33
  17. 17 Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 63:8; Psalm 145:14; Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 37:24
  18. 18 Psalm 1:6; Psalm 103:17; Romans 6:23; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 11:3–5
  19. 19 Psalm 33:19; Proverbs 10:3; Job 5:20–22; Isaiah 33:16; Amos 5:13
  20. 20 Psalm 68:2; Psalm 102:3; Luke 13:3; Deuteronomy 33:14–16; Judges 5:31
  21. 21 Hebrews 13:16; Psalm 112:5; Proverbs 22:7; Psalm 112:9; Luke 6:30
  22. 22 Proverbs 3:33; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Psalm 37:9; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 37:11
  23. 23 Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 119:133; Proverbs 4:26; 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 40:2
  24. 24 Proverbs 24:16; Psalm 145:14; Psalm 94:18; Micah 7:7–8; John 10:27–30
  25. 25 Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 37:28; Psalm 25:13; Psalm 112:2; 1 Samuel 12:22
  26. 26 Psalm 112:5; Psalm 37:21; Matthew 5:7; Jeremiah 32:39; Deuteronomy 15:8–10
  27. 27 Psalm 34:14; Proverbs 16:6; 1 John 2:16–17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Hebrews 13:16
  28. 28 Proverbs 2:22; Psalm 11:7; Psalm 21:10; Isaiah 59:21; 1 Peter 1:5
  29. 29 Proverbs 2:21; Psalm 37:9; 2 Peter 3:13; Psalm 37:11; Psalm 37:18
  30. 30 Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 25:11–13; Proverbs 15:7; Ephesians 4:29; Matthew 12:35
  31. 31 Psalm 40:8; Deuteronomy 6:6; Isaiah 51:7; Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 31:33
  32. 32 Jeremiah 20:10; Luke 14:1; Luke 20:20; Psalm 10:8–10; Luke 19:47–48
  33. 33 Psalm 109:31; 2 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:33–34; 2 Timothy 4:17
  34. 34 Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 20:22; Psalm 37:9; Matthew 24:13; Psalm 52:5–6
  35. 35 Job 5:3; Psalm 73:3–11; Job 21:7–17; Ezekiel 31:6–10; Isaiah 14:14–19
  36. 36 Psalm 37:10; Acts 12:22–23; Isaiah 10:16–19; Exodus 15:19; Isaiah 10:33–34
  37. 37 Isaiah 32:17; Isaiah 57:1–2; 2 Timothy 4:6–8; Acts 7:59–60; Job 42:12–17
  38. 38 Proverbs 14:32; Psalm 52:5; Matthew 13:49–50; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Psalm 1:4–6
  39. 39 Psalm 9:9; Psalm 91:15; Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 3:8; 2 Timothy 4:17
  40. 40 Isaiah 31:5; Daniel 3:17; 1 Chronicles 5:20; Isaiah 46:4; Daniel 3:28

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms (Psalm XXXVI)

    "The ungodly hath said in himself that he will sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes" (ver. 1). Not of one man, but of a race of ungodly men he speaketh, who fight against their own selves, by not understanding, that so they may live well; not because they cannot, but because they will not.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)

  2. Quotes verse 37:23 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book V, Chapters VII–VIII)

    It was Thou, O my God, who didst it, for the steps of a man are ordered by the Lord, and He shall dispose his way. Or how can we procure salvation but from Thy hand, remaking what it hath made?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 37:11 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew (Homily XV)

    And besides, since in the Old Testament the prophet used to say continually, "The meek shall inherit the earth;" He thus weaves into His discourse the words to which they were accustomed, so as not everywhere to speak a strange language.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)

  4. Quotes verse 37:4 Basil of Caesarea, Hexaemeron (Homily VIII)

    "Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desire of thine heart." Do you love riches?

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)

  5. Quotes verse 37:11 Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (Sermon XXXI)

    … saith, "Great peace have they who love Thy law, and nothing is an offence to them." To this sentiment also agrees the passage which we have chanted in course; "But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Because, "great peace have they who love Thy law." For these "meek" ones are they …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)