Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.

1Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!

2For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender green plants.

2For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

3Trust in the LORD and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

4Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.

4Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act,

5Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

6making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.

6He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

7Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.

7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

8Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated--it can only bring harm.

8Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

9For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

9For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

10A little while, and the wicked person will be no more; though you look for him, he will not be there.

10In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.

11But the humble will inherit the land and will enjoy abundant prosperity.

11But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

12The wicked person schemes against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.

12The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,

13The Lord laughs at him because he sees that his day is coming.

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

14The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow to bring down the poor and needy and to slaughter those whose way is upright.

14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright;

15Their swords will enter their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

15their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people.

16Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.

17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD supports the righteous.

17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

18The LORD watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.

18The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;

19They will not be disgraced in times of adversity; they will be satisfied in days of hunger.

19they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.

20But the wicked will perish; the LORD's enemies, like the glory of the pastures, will fade away--they will fade away like smoke.

20But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21The wicked person borrows and does not repay, but the righteous one is gracious and giving.

21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

22Those who are blessed by the LORD will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will be destroyed.

22for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

23A person's steps are established by the LORD, and he takes pleasure in his way.

23The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD supports him with his hand.

24though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

25I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.

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

26He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing.

26He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

27Turn away from evil, do what is good, and settle permanently.

27Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.

28For the LORD loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.

28For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

29The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently.

29The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom; his tongue speaks what is just.

30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

31The instruction of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.

31The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

32The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous and intends to kill him;

32The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.

33the LORD will not leave him in the power of the wicked one or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.

33The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

34Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.

34Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

35I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.

35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.

36Then I passed by and noticed he was gone; I searched for him, but he could not be found.

36But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found.

37Watch the blameless and observe the upright, for the person of peace will have a future.

37Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.

38But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.

38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD, their refuge in a time of distress.

39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40The LORD helps and delivers them; he will deliver them from the wicked and will save them because they take refuge in him.

40The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.