Do not be upset* because of evil men
Or envious of wrongdoers.+
2 They will quickly wither like grass+
And shrivel like green new grass.
3 Trust in Jehovah and do what is good;+
Reside in the earth,* and act with faithfulness.+
4 Find exquisite delight* in Jehovah,
And he will grant you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to* Jehovah;+
Rely on him, and he will act in your behalf.+
6 He will make your righteousness shine like daybreak,
And your justice like the midday sun.
7 Keep silent before Jehovah+
And wait expectantly* for him.
Do not be upset by the man
Who succeeds in carrying out his schemes.+
8 Let go of anger and abandon rage;+
Do not become upset and turn to doing evil.*
9 For evil men will be done away with,+
But those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth.+
10 Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more;+
You will look at where they were,
And they will not be there.+
11 But the meek will possess the earth,+
And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.+
12 The wicked man plots against the righteous;+
He grinds his teeth at him.
13 But Jehovah will laugh at him,
For He knows that his day will come.+
14 The wicked draw their swords and bend* their bows
To bring down the oppressed and the poor,
To slaughter those whose way is upright.
15 But their sword will pierce their own heart;+
Their bows will be broken.
16 Better is the little of the righteous one
Than the abundance of many wicked ones.+
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
But Jehovah will support the righteous.
18 Jehovah is aware of what the blameless go through,*
And their inheritance will last forever.+
19 They will not be put to shame in the time of disaster;
In the time of famine they will have plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish;+
The enemies of Jehovah will vanish like glorious pastures;
They will vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked one borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous one is generous* and giving.+
22 Those blessed by Him will possess the earth,
But those cursed by Him will be done away with.+
23 Jehovah guides* the steps of a man+
When He finds pleasure in his way.+
24 Although he may fall, he will not be hurled down,+
For Jehovah supports him by the hand.*+
25 I was once young and now I am old,
But I have not seen anyone righteous abandoned,+
Nor his children looking for bread.*+
26 He always lends freely,+
And his children are in line for a blessing.
27 Turn away from bad and do what is good,+
And you will remain forever.
28 For Jehovah loves justice,
And he will not abandon his loyal ones.+
They will always be guarded;+
But the descendants of the wicked will be done away with.+
29 The righteous will possess the earth,+
And they will live forever on it.+
30 The mouth of the righteous one imparts wisdom,*
And his tongue speaks about justice.+
31 The law of his God is in his heart;+
His steps will not falter.+
32 The wicked watches the righteous,
Seeking to put him to death.
33 But Jehovah will not abandon him to the hand of that one+
Or find him guilty when he is judged.+
34 Hope in Jehovah and follow his way,
And he will exalt you to take possession of the earth.
When the wicked are done away with,+ you will see it.+
35 I have seen the ruthless, evil man
Spreading out like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.+
36 But he suddenly passed away and was gone;+
I kept searching for him, and he could not be found.+
37 Take note of the blameless one,*
And keep the upright one+ in sight,
For the future of that man will be peaceful.+
38 But all the transgressors will be destroyed;
The future of wicked people will be cut off.+
39 The salvation of the righteous is from Jehovah;+
He is their fortress in the time of distress.+
40 Jehovah will help them and rescue them.+
He will rescue them from the wicked and save them,
Because they take refuge in him.+
