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v1

Do not fret because of evildoers; do not be envious of doers of wickedness.

v2

For like the grass they will dry up quickly, and like green vegetation they will wither.

v3

Trust Yahweh and do good. Abide in the land and feed on faithfulness. ^[That is, God’s faithfulness]

v4

Take pleasure in Yahweh as well, and he will give to you the requests of your heart.

v5

Commit to ^[Literally “Roll upon”] Yahweh your way; Trust also on him and he will act.

v6

Then he will bring forth your righteousness like the light, and your justice like the noonday.

v7

Be quiet before Yahweh and wait for him. Do not fret about one who succeeds in his way, about a man making plots.

v8

Refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret; it only brings evil.

v9

For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh— they will possess the land.

v10

And ^[Or “But”] yet a little while and the wicked will not be, and you will look carefully upon his place, but he will not be.

v11

But the afflicted will possess the land, and they will take pleasure in an abundance of peace.

v12

The wicked plans evil against the righteous, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

v13

The Lord laughs at him, for he sees that his day is coming.

v14

The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow to throw down the poor and the needy, to kill those upright in their way.

v15

Their sword will enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

v16

The little belonging to the righteous is better than the wealth of many wicked.

v17

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh supports the righteous.

v18

Yahweh knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will be forever.

v19

They will not be put to shame in distressing times, ^[Hebrew “time”] and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

v20

But the wicked will perish, and the enemies of Yahweh will be like the splendor of the pastures. They vanish; in smoke they vanish.

v21

The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous is gracious and gives.

v22

For those blessed by him shall possess the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

v23

The steps of a man are established by Yahweh, and he takes pleasure in his way.

v24

Though he fall, he will not be cast headlong, for Yahweh supports him with his hand.

v25

I was a youth, but I am now old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for ^[Literally “searching”] bread.

v26

All the day he is gracious and lends, and his children are a blessing.

v27

Turn aside from evil and do good and so abide forever.

v28

For Yahweh loves justice and will not forsake his faithful ones. They are protected forever. But the children of the wicked will be cut off.

v29

The righteous will possess the land and abide in it forever.

v30

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

v31

The law of his God is in his heart. His steps will not slip.

v32

The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to kill him.

v33

Yahweh will not abandon him into his hand, and he will not let him be condemned when he is judged.

v34

Wait for Yahweh and keep his way, and he will exalt you to possess the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

v35

I have seen the wicked acting violently and spreading himself out like a luxuriant native tree.

v36

Then he passed on ^[Dead Sea Scrolls and the versions read “I passed by”] and behold, he was not. And I sought him, but he could not be found.

v37

Observe the blameless and look at the upright, for there is a future for a man of peace.

v38

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

v39

And ^[Some manuscripts omit “and,” preserving the acrostic] the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh, their refuge in the time of trouble.

v40

And Yahweh helps them and he rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.