(1 Kings 2:1–9)

¹ Of David.¹ Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.

1. This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

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

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

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

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.

⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.

⁸ Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.

⁹ For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

¹⁰ Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.

¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land¹ and delight in abundant prosperity.

1. Or the earth; see Matthew 5:5.

¹² The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,

¹³ but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

¹⁵ But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked.

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

¹⁸ The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their inheritance will last forever.

¹⁹ In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

²⁰ But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.

²² Surely those He blesses will inherit the land, but the cursed will be destroyed.

²³ The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.

²⁴ Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.¹

1. Or upholds him with His hand

²⁵ I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.

²⁶ They are ever generous and quick to lend, and their children are a blessing.

²⁷ Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.

²⁸ For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

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

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

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

³² Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,

³³ the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned under judgment.

³⁴ Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,

³⁶ yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

³⁷ Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.¹

1. Or for there is a future for the man of peace

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

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

⁴⁰ The LORD helps and delivers them; He rescues and saves them from the wicked, because they take refuge in Him.