1 D o not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

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 the Lord, 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 yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

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

5 C ommit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall 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 H e shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

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 the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes 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; Do not fret— it only causes harm.

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

9 F or evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.

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 be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.

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 earth, 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 plots against the just, And gnashes at 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 laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.

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

14 T he wicked have drawn the sword And have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay those who are of upright conduct.

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 their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.

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

16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches 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 the Lord upholds the righteous.

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

18 T he Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever.

The Lord knows the days of the upright and blameless, and their heritage will abide forever.

19 T hey shall not be ashamed in the evil time, 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 the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish 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 borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.

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

22 F or those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by 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 T he steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights 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 the Lord upholds 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 I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

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

26 H e is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are 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 forevermore.

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

28 F or the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants 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 in it forever.

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

30 T he mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of 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 watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.

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

33 T he Lord 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 on the Lord, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall 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 native green tree.

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

36 Y et he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed 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 blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.

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

38 B ut the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future 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 from the Lord; He is their strength 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 the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust 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.