Psalm 37:16-34

English Standard Version

^16 (A)Better is the little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
¹⁷ For ^(B)the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but the Lord ^(C)upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ The Lord ^(D)knows the days of the blameless,
    and their ^(E)heritage will remain forever;
¹⁹ they are not put to shame in evil times;
    in ^(F)the days of famine they have abundance.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish;
    the enemies of the Lord are like ^(G)the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish—like ^(H)smoke they vanish away.

²¹ The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
    but the righteous ^(I)is generous and gives;
²² for those blessed by the Lord^[a] shall ^(J)inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him ^(K)shall be cut off.

²³ The ^(L)steps of a man are ^(M)established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
^24 (N)though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord ^(O)upholds his hand.

²⁵ I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children ^(P)begging for bread.
²⁶ He is ever ^(Q)lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

^27 (R)Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you ^(S)dwell forever.
²⁸ For the Lord ^(T)loves justice;
    he will not forsake his ^(U)saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be ^(V)cut off.
²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land
    and ^(W)dwell upon it forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
^31 (X)The law of his God is in his heart;
    his ^(Y)steps do not slip.

³² The wicked ^(Z)watches for the righteous
    and seeks to put him to death.
³³ The Lord will not ^(AA)abandon him to his power
    or let him ^(AB)be condemned when he is brought to trial.

^34 (AC)Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on ^(AD)when the wicked are cut off.