Psalms 37:12-24

12The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth.

13The Lord laughs at him [the wicked one—the one who oppresses the righteous], For He sees that his day [of defeat] is coming.

14The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow To cast down the afflicted and the needy, To slaughter those who are upright in conduct [those with personal integrity and godly character].

15The sword [of the ungodly] will enter their own heart, And their bow will be broken.

16Better is the little of the righteous [who seek the will of God] Than the abundance (riches) of many wicked (godless).

17For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the Lord upholds and sustains the righteous [who seek Him].

18The Lord knows the days of the blameless, And their inheritance will continue forever.

19They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty and be satisfied.

20But the wicked (ungodly) will perish, And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures and like the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke], They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

21The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives.

22For those blessed by God will [at last] inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be cut off.

23The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].

24When he falls, he will not be hurled down, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand and sustains him.