Psalms

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

1Do not get upset over people who do evil. Do not envy people who do wrong.

Note"Fret" in the old wording means to worry and burn with resentment, not simply to be sad.

2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

2They will be cut down fast, like grass. They will dry up like a green plant in the sun.

3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

3Trust the LORD, and do good. Then you will live in the land, and you will be fed.

4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

4Find your joy in the LORD, and he will give you what your heart truly wants.

5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

5Hand your plans over to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act.

6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

6He will make your goodness clear as morning light, and your fairness bright as noon.

7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

7Be still before the LORD and wait for him. Do not get upset when a person does well by doing wrong, and his evil plans work.

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

8Stop being angry. Let your rage go. Do not fret, because it only leads you into doing wrong yourself.

NoteThe King James wording, "fret not thyself in any wise to do evil," means that fretting only pulls you into doing wrong yourself.

9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

9People who do evil will be cut off. But people who wait for the LORD will be given the land.

10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

10In a little while the wicked will be gone. You will look hard for the place where he was, and he will not be there.

11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

11But humble people will be given the land. They will enjoy peace and plenty.

12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

12The wicked make plans against those who do right. They grind their teeth at them in hate.

13The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

13The Lord laughs at them, because he sees that their day is coming.

14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

14The wicked have pulled out swords and bent their bows. They mean to knock down the poor and needy, and to kill honest people.

Note"Conversation" in 1611 English meant the whole way a person lives, not talking.

15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

15But their own swords will go into their own hearts, and their bows will be snapped.

16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

16The little that a good person owns is better than the great riches of many wicked people.

17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

17The strength of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD holds up those who do right.

18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

18The LORD knows every day of an honest person's life. What they receive will last forever.

19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

19When bad times come, they will not be let down. Even when food runs short, they will have enough.

20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

20But the wicked will die. The LORD's enemies will fade like the flowers of a field. They will disappear like smoke.

NoteThe King James says the wicked will be like "the fat of lambs." The picture is of something that burns away to nothing, like the best of a field that quickly fades.

21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

21The wicked borrow and never pay back. But good people are kind, and they give.

22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

22Those the LORD blesses will be given the land. Those he curses will be cut off.

23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

23The LORD guides the steps of a good person, and he is pleased with the way that person goes.

24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

24Even if he falls, he will not stay down, because the LORD holds him up by the hand.

25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

25I was young once, and now I am old. I have never seen a good person left alone, or his children begging for bread.

26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

26He is always kind, and he lends to others. His children are a blessing.

27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

27Turn away from evil and do good. Then you will live safely forever.

28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

28The LORD loves what is fair, and he never leaves his faithful people. They are kept safe forever. But the children of the wicked will be cut off.

29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

29Those who do right will be given the land, and they will live in it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

30A good person says wise things. His words are fair.

31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

31God's law is inside his heart, so his feet do not slip.

32The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

32The wicked watch the good person and look for a chance to kill him.

33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

33But the LORD will not leave him in their hands. He will not let him be found guilty when he is put on trial.

34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

34Wait for the LORD and stay on his path. He will lift you up to receive the land. You will watch the wicked be cut off.

35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

35I have seen a wicked man with great power, spreading out like a strong, well-rooted tree.

36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

36But then he was gone. I looked for him, and he was nowhere to be found.

37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

37Look at the person who lives without blame. Watch the honest one. That person's future is peace.

38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

38But those who break God's law will all be destroyed. The wicked have no future left.

39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

39Rescue for good people comes from the LORD. He is their safe place when trouble comes.

40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

40The LORD helps them and sets them free. He saves them from the wicked, because they take shelter in him.