PSALM 37,
"Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed!
Do not envy evildoers!
For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.
Trust in the Lord and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
Then you will take delight in the Lord , and He will answer your prayers.
Commit your future to the Lord!
Trust in Him, and He will act on your behalf.
He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.
Wait patiently for the Lord!
Wait confidently for him!
Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!
Do not be angry and frustrated!
Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
Wicked men WILL be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.
Evil men WILL soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.
But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.
Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.
The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for He knows that their day is coming.
Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly. Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men, for evil men will lose their power, but the Lord sustains the godly.
The Lord watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance.
They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.
BUT evil men will die; the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated – they will go up in smoke.
Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.
Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by Him will be wiped out.
The Lord grants success to the one whose behavior HE finds commendable.
Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand.
I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.
All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.
Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security.
For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons His faithful followers.
They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.
The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.
The godly speak wise words and promote justice.
The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.
Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them. But the Lord does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.
Rely on the Lord!
Obey his commands! Then He will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.
I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.
Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly!
For the one who promotes peace has a future.
Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.
But the Lord delivers the godly; He protects them in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek HIS protection."
Do not envy evildoers!
For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.
Trust in the Lord and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
Then you will take delight in the Lord , and He will answer your prayers.
Commit your future to the Lord!
Trust in Him, and He will act on your behalf.
He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.
Wait patiently for the Lord!
Wait confidently for him!
Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!
Do not be angry and frustrated!
Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!
Wicked men WILL be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.
Evil men WILL soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.
But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.
Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.
The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for He knows that their day is coming.
Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly. Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men, for evil men will lose their power, but the Lord sustains the godly.
The Lord watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance.
They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.
BUT evil men will die; the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated – they will go up in smoke.
Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.
Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by Him will be wiped out.
The Lord grants success to the one whose behavior HE finds commendable.
Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand.
I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.
All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.
Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security.
For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons His faithful followers.
They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.
The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.
The godly speak wise words and promote justice.
The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.
Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them. But the Lord does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.
Rely on the Lord!
Obey his commands! Then He will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.
I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.
Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly!
For the one who promotes peace has a future.
Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.
But the Lord delivers the godly; He protects them in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek HIS protection."
(meditating on this...)
Doesn't this sound like today?
1. "wicked men seem to succeed"
2. "the apparent success of a sinner"
3. "wicked schemes"
4. "plot against the godly"
5. "viciously attack them"
6. "evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly"
7. "wealth of many evil men...power"
8. "evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt"
9. "ambush for the godly"
10. "evil men growing in influence"
2. "the apparent success of a sinner"
3. "wicked schemes"
4. "plot against the godly"
5. "viciously attack them"
6. "evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly"
7. "wealth of many evil men...power"
8. "evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt"
9. "ambush for the godly"
10. "evil men growing in influence"
BUT, look!
1. "they will quickly dry up"
2. "wicked men will be wiped out"
3. "evil men will soon disappear"
4. "you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone"
5. "the Lord laughs in disgust at them"
6. "their swords will pierce their own hearts"
7. "their bows will be broken"
8. "evil men will lose their power"
9. "evil men will die; the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated – they will go up in smoke"
10. "evil men have no future"
2. "wicked men will be wiped out"
3. "evil men will soon disappear"
4. "you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone"
5. "the Lord laughs in disgust at them"
6. "their swords will pierce their own hearts"
7. "their bows will be broken"
8. "evil men will lose their power"
9. "evil men will die; the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated – they will go up in smoke"
10. "evil men have no future"
That's encouraging!
And what of God's people?
1. "you will take delight in the Lord, and He will answer your prayers"
2. "He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause"
3. "will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity"
4. "the Lord sustains... watches over"
5. "they possess a permanent inheritance"
7. "they will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat"
8. "their feet do not slip... even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand"
9. "the Lord does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law"
10. "the Lord delivers the godly; He protects them in times of trouble... helps them and rescues them"
2. "He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause"
3. "will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity"
4. "the Lord sustains... watches over"
5. "they possess a permanent inheritance"
7. "they will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat"
8. "their feet do not slip... even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand"
9. "the Lord does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law"
10. "the Lord delivers the godly; He protects them in times of trouble... helps them and rescues them"
BUT a TRUE child of God will...
1. "not fret when wicked men seem to succeed"
2. "not envy evildoers"
3. "trust in the Lord and do what is right"
4. "maintain integrity"
5. "commit future to the Lord"
6. "trust in Him"
7. "wait confidently for Him... not fret"
8. "rely on the Lord"
9. "wait patiently for the Lord"
10. "not be angry and frustrated"
11. be "godly"
12. maintain "innocence"
13. "show compassion and be generous... all day long...lend to others"
14. "turn away from evil... do what is right"
15. be "faithful followers"
16. "speak wise words and promote justice"
17. "allow the law of their God to control their thinking"
18. "rely on the Lord... seek His protection"
19. "obey His commands"
20. "promote peace"
2. "not envy evildoers"
3. "trust in the Lord and do what is right"
4. "maintain integrity"
5. "commit future to the Lord"
6. "trust in Him"
7. "wait confidently for Him... not fret"
8. "rely on the Lord"
9. "wait patiently for the Lord"
10. "not be angry and frustrated"
11. be "godly"
12. maintain "innocence"
13. "show compassion and be generous... all day long...lend to others"
14. "turn away from evil... do what is right"
15. be "faithful followers"
16. "speak wise words and promote justice"
17. "allow the law of their God to control their thinking"
18. "rely on the Lord... seek His protection"
19. "obey His commands"
20. "promote peace"
Even though...
1. "oppressed"
2. "viciously attacked"
3. "needy"
4. "swords drawn for slaughter"
5. "hard times"
6. "famine"
7. called to "court of law"
8. "ambushed"
9. "evil men try to kill"
10. "times of trouble"
1. "oppressed"
2. "viciously attacked"
3. "needy"
4. "swords drawn for slaughter"
5. "hard times"
6. "famine"
7. called to "court of law"
8. "ambushed"
9. "evil men try to kill"
10. "times of trouble"
Praise the Lord!
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