A psalm of David.

¹ Be not thou angry on account of the wicked, Nor be envious of those who do iniquity.

² For soon shall they be cut down like grass, And wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; Abide in the land, and delight in faithfulness.

⁴ Place thy delight in the LORD. And he will give thee thy heart’s desires.

⁵ Commit thy way to the LORD; Trust in him, and he will give thee success!

⁶ He will cause thy justice to shine forth like the light, And thy righteousness like the noonday’s brightness.

⁷ Hope thou patiently on the LORD, And in him place thy trust! Be not angry on account of the prosperous,—On account of him that deviseth deceit!

⁸ Cease from anger; give not way to wrath; Be not provoked, so as to do evil!

⁹ For evil-doers shall be rooted out; But they who trust in the LORD, they shall inherit the land.

¹⁰ Yet a little while, and the wicked shall be no more; Thou mayst look for his place, and he will not be found.

¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land, And delight themselves in the fulness of prosperity.

¹² The wicked man plotteth against the just, And gnasheth at him with his teeth.

¹³ The Lord laugheth at him; For he seeth that his day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword, And bend their bow, To cast down the afflicted and the needy, And to slay the upright.

¹⁵ Their swords shall enter their own hearts, And their bows shall be broken in pieces.

¹⁶ Better is the little of the righteous man Than the great abundance of the wicked;

¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the LORD will uphold the righteous.

¹⁸ The LORD careth for the life of the upright, And their inheritance shall endure for ever.

¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall have enough.

²⁰ But the wicked shall perish; Yea, the enemies of the LORD shall be consumed, like the glory of the fields; They shall be consumed into smoke.

²¹ The wicked borroweth, and repayeth not; But the righteous is merciful and bountiful.

²² For they who are blessed by God shall inherit the land, And they who are cursed by him shall be rooted out.

²³ The steps of the good man are directed by the LORD; He delighteth himself in his way.

²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, For the LORD holdeth him by the hand.

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

²⁶ He is ever merciful and lendeth, And his offspring shall be blessed.

²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; So thou shalt dwell in the land for ever.

²⁸ For the LORD loveth righteousness, And forsaketh not his servants; They are preserved for ever; But the posterity of the wicked shall be rooted out.

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

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous uttereth wisdom, And his tongue speaketh what is right.

³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; His footsteps shall not slip.

³² The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him;

³³ The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor suffer him to be condemned, when he is judged.

³⁴ Trust in the LORD, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to the possession of the land, Whilst thou shalt see the destruction of the wicked!

³⁵ I have seen a wicked man in great power, And spreading himself like a green cedar;

³⁶ But he passed away, and, lo! he was no more; Yea, I sought him, but he was not found.

³⁷ Mark the righteous man, and behold the upright, That posterity is to the man of peace!

³⁸ But transgressors will all be destroyed; The posterity of the wicked shall be rooted out.

³⁹ The salvation of the just is from the LORD. He is their strength in the time of trouble.

⁴⁰ The LORD will help and deliver them; He will deliver them from their enemies, and save them, Because they trust in him.