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

Do not trouble yourself because of sinful men. Do not want to be like those who do wrong.

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

For they will soon dry up like the grass. Like the green plant they will soon die.

3 T rust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.

Trust in the Lord, and do good. So you will live in the land and will be fed.

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

Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart.

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

Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it.

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

He will make your being right and good show as the light, and your wise actions as the noon day.

7 R est 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.

Rest in the Lord and be willing to wait for Him. Do not trouble yourself when all goes well with the one who carries out his sinful plans.

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

Stop being angry. Turn away from fighting. Do not trouble yourself. It leads only to wrong-doing.

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

For those who do wrong will be cut off. But those who wait for the Lord will be given the earth.

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

A little while, and the sinful man will be no more. You will look for his place, and he will not be there.

11 B ut the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

But those who have no pride will be given the earth. And they will be happy and have much more than they need.

12 T he wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth.

The sinful man plans against him who is right with God. And he grinds his teeth at him.

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

The Lord laughs at him because He sees his 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 kill those who are upright on the path.

The sinful have taken up their sword and their bow, to bring down the poor and those in need, and to kill those whose ways are right.

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

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

16 B etter is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

The few things that the man right with God has is better than the riches of many sinful men.

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

For the arms of the sinful will be broken. But the Lord holds up those who are right with Him.

18 Y ahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.

The Lord knows the days of those who are without blame. And what is theirs will last forever.

19 T hey shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

They will not be ashamed in the time of trouble. And in days when there is no food they will have enough.

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

But the sinful will be lost forever. Those who hate the Lord will be like the beauty of the fields. They will be gone. Like smoke they will be gone.

21 T he wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

The sinful ask for something, but do not return it. But those who are right with God are kind and give.

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

For those who are made happy by Him will be given the land. But those who are being punished by Him will be cut off.

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

The steps of a good man are led by the Lord. And He is happy in his way.

24 T hough he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.

When he falls, he will not be thrown down, because the Lord holds his hand.

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

I have been young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the man who is right with God left alone, or his children begging for bread.

26 A ll day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.

All day long he is kind and lets others use what he has. And his children make him happy.

27 D epart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.

Turn from sin, and do good, so you will live forever.

28 F or Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

For the Lord loves what is fair and right. He does not leave the people alone who belong to Him. They are kept forever. But the children of the sinful will be cut off.

29 T he righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.

Those who are right with God will be given the land, and live on it forever.

30 T he mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.

The mouth of the man who is right with God speaks wisdom. And his tongue speaks what is fair and right.

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. His steps do not leave it.

32 T he wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him.

The sinful lie in wait for the man who is right with God, and want to kill him.

33 Y ahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

The Lord will not leave him in his power. He will not let him be found guilty when he is judged.

34 W ait 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.

Wait for the Lord. Keep His way. And He will give you a high place to receive the land. When the sinful are cut off, you will see it.

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

I have seen a very sinful man spreading himself like a green tree in its home land.

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

Then he passed away and was no more. I looked for him. But he could not be found.

37 M ark the perfect man, and see the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

Look at the man without blame. And watch the man who is right and good. For the man of peace will have much family to follow him.

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

But all the sinners will be destroyed. The family of the sinful will be cut off.

39 B ut the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

But the saving of those who are right with God is from the Lord. He is their strength in time of trouble.

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

The Lord helps them and takes them out of trouble. He takes them away from the sinful, and saves them, because they go to Him for a safe place.