Psalms 37:3-20

3Trust in the Lord and do good things. Then you will live safely in the land.

4Be happy that the Lord is your friend. He will give you what you most want.

5Let the Lord be your guide into the future. Trust in him and he will help you.

6He will show everyone that you are righteous. People will know that you are a good person, as clearly as the sun shines at noon.

7Be patient as you wait for the Lord to help you. Trust him to bring help. Do not become upset when bad people seem to do well, when their wicked ideas really happen.

8Do not become angry or upset! It will only bring trouble for you.

9Wicked people will disappear one day! But people who trust the Lord for help will live safely in the land that he has given to them.

10Evil people will soon be gone. You may look for them, but you will not find them.

11Humble people will live safely in the land. They will live in peace and they will enjoy good things.

12Wicked people think about how to hurt righteous people. They show their teeth to frighten good people.

13But my Lord laughs at those wicked people, because he knows that their day of punishment will come.

14Wicked people get out their swords, and they prepare to shoot their arrows. They try to make poor and helpless people fall down. They try to destroy people who do what is right.

15But their swords will go into their own hearts. Their bows will break in pieces.

16It is better to do what is right and only have a few things, than to be wicked and have many things.

17The Lord keeps righteous people safe, but he will destroy the power of wicked people.

18If anyone lives a completely good life, the Lord takes care of them. His gifts to them will last for ever.

19When times of trouble come, they will still be safe. In a time of famine, they will have enough to eat.

20But wicked people will die. They are the Lord's enemies. They will disappear like smoke from a fire that burns them up.