1 F ret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God).

Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.

2 F or they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

3 T rust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.

Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

4 D elight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

Also delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 C ommit your way to the Lord; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:

6 A nd He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as the noonday.

he will make your righteousness go out as the light, and your justice as the noon day sun.

7 B e still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

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 C ease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.

9 F or evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord shall inherit the earth.

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

10 F or yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found.

For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.

11 B ut the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 T he wicked plot against the righteous (the upright in right standing with God); they gnash at them with their teeth.

The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

13 T he Lord laughs at, for He sees that their own day is coming.

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

14 T he wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who walk uprightly (blameless in conduct and in conversation).

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 T he swords shall enter their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken.

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

16 B etter is the little that the righteous have than the abundance of many who are wrong and wicked.

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

17 F or the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

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

18 T he Lord knows the days of the upright and blameless, and their heritage will abide forever.

Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

19 T hey shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 B ut the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs and as the glory of the pastures. They shall vanish; like smoke shall they consume away.

But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.

21 T he wicked borrow and pay not again, but the righteous deal kindly and give.

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

22 F or such as are blessed of God shall inherit the earth, but they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off.

For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

23 T he steps of a man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way.

A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.

24 T hough he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.

Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.

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

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.

26 A ll day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed.

All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

27 D epart from evil and do good; and you will dwell forever.

Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

28 F or the Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked shall be cut off.

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 t he righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

30 T he mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks with justice.

The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

31 T he law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

32 T he wicked lie in wait for the righteous and seek to put them to death.

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

33 T he Lord will not leave them in their hands, or condemn them when they are judged.

Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

34 W ait for and expect the Lord and keep and heed His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

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 seen a wicked man in great power and spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil,

I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

36 Y et he passed away, and behold, he was not; yes, I sought and inquired for him, but he could not be found.

But he passed away, and behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 M ark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a happy end for the man of peace.

Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

38 A s for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; in the end the wicked shall be cut off.

As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 B ut the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble.

But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40 A nd the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they trust and take refuge in Him.

Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.