1Do not fret because of the wicked;

do not be envious of wrongdoers,*

2for they will soon fade like the grass

and wither like the green herb.*

3Trust in the Lord and do good;

live in the land and enjoy security.*

4Take delight 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.*

6He will make your vindication shine like the light

and the justice of your cause like the noonday.*

7Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;

do not fret over those who prosper in their way,

over those who carry out evil devices.*

8Refrain from anger and forsake wrath.

Do not fret—it leads only to evil.*

9For the wicked shall be cut off,

but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.*

10Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.*

11But the meek shall inherit the land

and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.*

12The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them,*

13but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for he sees that their day is coming.*

14The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows

to bring down the poor and needy,

to kill those who walk uprightly;*

15their sword shall enter their own heart,

and their bows shall be broken.*

16Better is a little that the righteous person has

than the abundance of many wicked.*

17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,

but the Lord upholds the righteous.*

18The Lord knows the days of the blameless,

and their heritage will abide forever;*

19they are not put to shame in evil times;

in the days of famine they have abundance.*

20But the wicked perish,

and the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;

they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.*

21The wicked borrow and do not pay back,

but the righteous are generous and keep giving;*

22surely those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,

but those cursed by him shall be cut off.*

23Our stepsp are made firm by the Lord

when he delights in ourq way;*

24though we stumble, wer shall not fall headlong,

for the Lord holds uss by the hand.*

25I have been young and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.*

26They are ever giving liberally and lending,

and their children become a blessing.*

27Depart from evil, and do good;

so you shall abide forever.*

28For the Lord loves justice;

he will not forsake his faithful ones.

The righteous shall be kept safe forever,

but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.*

29The righteous shall inherit the land

and live in it forever.*

30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,

and their tongues speak justice.*

31The law of their God is in their hearts;

their steps do not slip.*

32The wicked watch for the righteous

and seek to kill them.*

33The Lord will not abandon them to their power

or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.*

34Wait for the Lord and keep to his way,

and he will exalt you to inherit the land;

you will look on the destruction of the wicked.*

35I have seen the wicked oppressing

and towering like a cedar of Lebanon.t^,*

36Again Iu passed by, and they were no more;

though I sought them, they could not be found.*

37Mark the blameless and behold the upright,

for there is posterity for the peaceable.*

38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;

the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.*

39The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

he is their refuge in the time of trouble.*

40The Lord helps them and rescues them;

he rescues them from the wicked and saves them

because they take refuge in him.*