1 F ret not thyself because of evil-doers, Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.

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

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 as the green herb.

3 T rust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness.

Trust (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.

4 D elight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart.

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

5 C ommit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.

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

6 A nd he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, And thy justice as the noon-day.

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

7 R est in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Be 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.

8 C ease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing.

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

9 F or evil-doers shall be cut off; But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land.

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

10 F or yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.

For 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.

11 B ut the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 T he wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

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

13 T he Lord will laugh at him; For he seeth that his day is coming.

The Lord laughs at, for He sees that their own day is coming.

14 T he wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way.

The 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).

15 T heir sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.

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

16 B etter is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.

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

17 F or the arms of the wicked shall be broken; But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.

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

18 J ehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; And their inheritance shall be for ever.

The Lord knows the days of the upright and blameless, and their heritage will abide 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 put to shame in the time of evil; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 B ut the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; In smoke shall they consume away.

But 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.

21 T he wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; But the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.

The wicked borrow and pay not again, but the righteous deal kindly and give.

22 F or such as are blessed of him shall inherit the land; And they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.

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

23 A man's goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way.

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

24 T hough he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand.

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

25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.

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

26 A ll the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.

All day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed.

27 D epart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore.

Depart from evil and do good; and you will dwell forever.

28 F or Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

29 T he righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever.

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

30 T he mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks with 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 watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him.

The wicked lie in wait for the righteous and seek to put them to death.

33 J ehovah will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.

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

34 W ait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Wait 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.

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

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

36 B ut one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

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

37 M ark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a happy end to the man of peace.

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

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

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

39 B ut the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

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

40 A nd Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them; He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

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