"They will soon wither"

Purpose: To encourage the righteous not to be upset by the success of the wicked, but to trust in YHWH and do good.

Content: The wicked will be destroyed, and the righteous will possess the land. Therefore, don't get upset about the wicked! Trust in YHWH and do good!

Message: The wicked will not last for long. It is the righteous who will possess the land.

Author: Anonymous

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Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 37.

1. Do not get upset about those who act wickedly;

Do not be jealous of those who do wrong.

2. For they will soon wither like grass,

and they will fade like green leaves on plants.

3. Trust in YHWH and do good!

Reside in the land and graze securely!

4. And then you will delight yourself in YHWH,

and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5. Commit your way to YHWH,

and trust in him, and he will act,

6. and he will make your righteousness known like the light,

and [he will make] your justice [known] like midday.

7. Be silent before YHWH and wait for him!

Do not get upset about someone who makes his way successful,

about a person carrying out schemes.

8. Let go of anger and leave wrath behind!

Do not get upset, only to act wickedly!

9. For those who act wickedly will be destroyed;

but those who hope in YHWH—they will possess the land.

10. And just a little bit longer, and the wicked person will be gone;

And you will look closely at the place where he was, and he will not be there.

11. But the humble will possess the land

and delight themselves in great prosperity.

12. The wicked person is plotting against the righteous person

and grinding his teeth at him.

13. The Lord laughs at him,

because he sees that his time will come.

14. The wicked have drawn swords

and strung their bows

in order to bring down the one who is afflicted and poor,

in order to slaughter those whose conduct is upright.

15. Their swords will go into their own hearts

and their bows will be broken.

16. A little belonging to the righteous person is better

than the abundance of many wicked people.

17. For the arms of the wicked will be broken,

but YHWH is upholding the righteous.

18. YHWH knows the days of the blameless,

and their inheritance will be forever.

19. They will not come to shame during hard times,

and they will eat their fill during times of famine.

20. For the wicked will perish,

and YHWH’s enemies [will perish] like flowers in a pasture.

They are finished like smoke! They are finished!

21. The wicked person is borrowing and will not repay,

but the righteous person is giving generously.

22. For those blessed by him will possess the land,

and those cursed by him will be destroyed.

23. When a person’s steps are made steadfast by YHWH,

then he will be pleased with his way.

24. When he falls, he will not fall flat,

because YHWH is supporting his hand.

25. I was once a young man, and now I am old,

and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned

or his children looking for food.

26. He is always lending generously,

and his children will become a blessing.

27. Turn away from evil and do good,

and you will reside forever!

28A. For YHWH loves justice,

and he will not abandon those who are loyal to him.

30. A righteous person’s mouth utters what is wise,

and his tongue speaks what is just.

31. The instruction of his God is in his heart.

His steps will not slip.

28B. Wrong-doers are exterminated,

and the children of the wicked are destroyed!

29. The righteous will possess the land

and reside on it forever.

32. The wicked person is watching for the righteous person

and trying to kill him.

33. YHWH will not abandon him into his hand,

and he will not let him be condemned as guilty when he enters into judgment.

34. Hope in YHWH and keep his way,

and he will exalt you to possess the land.

You will see when the wicked are destroyed.

35. I once saw a ruthless wicked person,

and he was ascending like a native tree.

36. Then I passed by, and—get this!—he was gone;

then I looked for him, and he was not found.

37. Pay attention to the blameless one, and look at the upright one,

because the future of a [blameless] person is peace.

38. But those who rebel are completely exterminated!

The future of the wicked is destroyed!

39. But the salvation of the righteous comes from YHWH,

their fortress during times of trouble,

40. and YHWH helps them and rescues them.

He will rescue them from the wicked and save them,

because they have sought refuge in him.

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 37, click here.