1Do not be irritated because of evildoers;
do not be envious of those who act unrighteously.

2For they will soon dry up as the grass
and wither as the green plants.

3Trust in Yahweh and do what is good;
settle in the land and graze in faithfulness.

4Then delight yourself in Yahweh,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Give your ways to Yahweh;
trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.

6He will display your justice like the daylight
and your innocence like the day at noon.

7Be still before Yahweh and wait patiently for him.
Do not be angry if someone succeeds in what he does,
or when he makes evil plots.

8Do not be angry and frustrated.
Do not worry. This only makes trouble.

9Evildoers will be cut off,
but those who wait for Yahweh will inherit the land.

10In a little while the evil man will disappear;
you will look at his place, but he will be gone.

11But the meek will inherit the land
and will delight in great prosperity.

12The wicked man plots against the righteous
and he grinds his teeth in rage against him.

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

14The wicked have drawn out their swords and have bent their bows
to cast down the oppressed and needy,
to kill those who are upright.

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

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

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

18Yahweh watches over the blameless day by day,
and their heritage will be forever.

19They will not be ashamed when times are bad.
When famine comes, they will have enough to eat.

20But evil men will perish.
Yahweh's enemies will be like the glory of the pastures;
they will be consumed and disappear in the smoke.

21The wicked person borrows but does not repay,
but the righteous person is generous and gives.

22Those who are blessed by God will inherit the land;
those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23It is by Yahweh that a man's steps are established,
the man whose way is commendable in God's sight.

24Though he stumbles, he will not fall down,
for Yahweh is holding him with his hand.

25I was young and now am old;
I have never seen the righteous person abandoned
or his children begging for bread.

26All the day long he is gracious and lends,
and his children become a blessing.

27Turn away from evil and do what is right;
then you will be safe forever.

28For Yahweh loves justice
and does not abandon his faithful followers.
They are preserved forever,
but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

29The righteous will inherit the land
and live there forever.

30The mouth of the righteous person speaks wisdom
and increases justice.

31The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet will not slip.

32The wicked person watches the righteous person
and seeks to kill him.

33Yahweh will not abandon him into the evil person's hand
or condemn him when he is judged.

34Wait for Yahweh and keep his way,
and he will raise you up to possess the land.
You will see when the wicked are cut off.

35I have seen the wicked and terrifying person
spread out like a green tree in its native soil.

36But when I passed by again, he was not there.
I looked for him, but he could not be found.

37Observe the man of integrity, and mark the upright;
there is a good future for a man of peace.

38Sinners will be totally destroyed;
the future for the wicked man is cut off.

39Salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh;
he protects them in the times of trouble.

40Yahweh helps them and rescues them.
He rescues them from evil men and saves them
because they have taken refuge in him.