Font Size
Psalm 36-38
Easy-to-Read Version
Psalm 36-38
Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song of David, the Lord’s servant.
36 Deep in the hearts of the wicked a voice tells them to do wrong.
They have no respect for God.
2 They lie to themselves.
They don’t see their own faults,
so they are not sorry for what they do.
3 Their words are wicked lies.
They have stopped doing anything wise or good.
4 They make wicked plans in bed at night.
They choose a way of life that does no good.
And they never say no to anything evil.
5 Lord, your faithful love reaches to the sky.
Your faithfulness is as high as the clouds.
6 Your goodness is higher than the highest mountains.
Your fairness is deeper than the deepest ocean.
Lord, you protect people and animals.
7 Nothing is more precious than your loving kindness.
All people can find protection close to you.
8 They get strength from all the good things in your house.
You let them drink from your wonderful river.
9 The fountain of life flows from you.
Your light lets us see light.
10 Continue to love those who really know you,
and do good to those who are true to you.[a]
11 Don’t let proud people trap me.
Don’t let the wicked force me to run away.
12 Put this on their grave markers:
“Here fell the wicked.
They were crushed.
They will never stand up again.”
[b] A song of David.
37 Don’t get upset about evil people.
Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.
2 They are like grass and other green plants
that dry up quickly and then die.
3 So trust in the Lord and do good.
Live on your land and be dependable.[c]
4 Enjoy serving the Lord,
and he will give you whatever you ask for.
5 Depend on the Lord.
Trust in him, and he will help you.
6 He will make it as clear as day that you are right.
Everyone will see that you are being fair.
7 Trust in the Lord and wait quietly for his help.
Don’t be angry when people make evil plans and succeed.
8 Don’t become so angry and upset that you, too, want to do evil.
9 The wicked will be destroyed,
but those who call to the Lord for help will get the land he promised.
10 In a short time there will be no more evil people.
You can look for them all you want, but they will be gone.
11 Humble people will get the land God promised,
and they will enjoy peace.
12 The wicked plan bad things for those who are good.
They show their teeth in anger at them.
13 But our Lord will laugh at them.
He will make sure they get what they deserve.
14 The wicked draw their swords to kill the poor and the helpless.
They aim their arrows to murder all who live right.
15 But their bows will break,
and their swords will pierce their own hearts.
16 A few good people are better
than a large crowd of those who are evil.
17 The wicked will be destroyed,
but the Lord cares for those who are good.
18 The Lord protects pure people all their life.
Their reward will continue forever.
19 When trouble comes,
good people will not be destroyed.
When times of hunger come,
good people will have plenty to eat.
20 But evil people are the Lord’s enemies,
and they will be destroyed.
Their valleys will dry up and burn.
They will be destroyed completely.
21 The wicked borrow money and never pay it back.
But good people are kind and generous.
22 Everyone the Lord blesses will get the land he promised.
Everyone he curses will be destroyed.
23 The Lord shows us how we should live,
and he is pleased when he sees people living that way.
24 If they stumble, they will not fall,
because the Lord reaches out to steady them.
25 I was young, and now I am old,
but I have never seen good people left with no one to help them;
I have never seen their children begging for food.
26 They are kind and generous,
and their children are a blessing.
27 Stop doing anything evil and do good,
and you will always have a place to live.
28 The Lord loves what is right,
and he will never leave his followers without help.
He will always protect them,
but he will destroy the families of the wicked.
29 Good people will get the land God promised
and will live on it forever.
30 Those who do what is right give good advice.
Their decisions are always fair.
31 They have learned God’s teachings,
and they will never stop living right.[d]
32 The wicked are always looking for ways to kill good people.
33 But the Lord will not let the wicked defeat them.
He will not let good people be judged guilty.
34 Do what the Lord says, and wait for his help.
He will reward you and give you the land he promised.
You will see the wicked being forced to leave.
35 I once saw a wicked man who was powerful.
He was like a strong, healthy tree.
36 But then he was gone.
I looked for him, but I could not find him.
37 Be pure and honest.
Peace loving people will have many descendants.
38 But those who break the law will be destroyed completely.
And their descendants will be forced to leave the land.[e]
39 The Lord saves those who are good.
When they have troubles, he is their strength.
40 The Lord helps good people and rescues them.
They depend on him, so he rescues them from the wicked.
A song of David for the day of remembrance.[f]
38 Lord, don’t criticize me when you are angry.
Don’t discipline me in anger.
2 You have hurt me.
You punished me and hurt me deeply.
3 You punished me severely, so my whole body is sore.
I sinned, and now all my bones hurt.
4 My guilt is like a heavy burden.
I am sinking beneath its weight.
5 I did a foolish thing,
and now I have infected sores that stink.
6 I am bent and bowed down.
I am depressed all day long.
7 I am burning with fever,
and my whole body hurts.
8 I hurt so much I cannot feel anything.
My pounding heart makes me scream!
9 My Lord, you heard my groaning.
You can hear my sighs.
10 My heart is pounding.
My strength is gone, and I am going blind.[g]
11 Because of my sickness,
my friends and neighbors will not visit me;
my family will not come near me.
12 My enemies say bad things about me.
They are spreading lies and rumors.
They talk about me all the time.
13 But I am like a deaf man and cannot hear.
I am like someone who cannot speak.
14 I am like those who cannot hear what people are saying about them.
I cannot answer to prove my enemies wrong.
15 Lord, you must defend me.
Lord my God, you must speak for me.
16 That’s why I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies smile at my pain.
Full of pride, they will laugh if I stumble and fall.”
17 I know I am guilty of doing wrong.
I cannot forget my pain.
18 Lord, I told you about the evil I have done.
I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my enemies are alive and healthy,
and they have told many lies.
20 I did nothing but good,
and they paid me back with evil.
I try to do what is right,
but that only makes them turn against me.
21 Lord, don’t leave me.
My God, stay close to me.
22 Come quickly and help me.
My Lord, you are the one who saves me.
Footnotes
- Psalm 36:10 true to you Or “honest hearted.”
- Psalm 37:1 Psalm 37 In Hebrew, about every other verse in this psalm begins with the next letter of the alphabet.
- Psalm 37:3 be dependable Literally, “shepherd faithfulness.”
- Psalm 37:31 they … right Literally, “his steps will not slip.”
- Psalm 37:38 forced to leave the land Or “destroyed.” Literally, “cut off.”
- Psalm 38:1 Psalm 38 for … remembrance The ancient Greek version has “for the Sabbath.”
- Psalm 38:10 I am going blind Or “My eyes have lost their sparkle.” Literally, “Even the light of my eyes is no longer with me.”
Psalm 36-38
New International Version
Psalm 36-38
New International Version
Psalm 36[a]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b](A)
There is no fear(B) of God
before their eyes.(C)
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.(D)
3 The words of their mouths(E) are wicked and deceitful;(F)
they fail to act wisely(G) or do good.(H)
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;(I)
they commit themselves to a sinful course(J)
and do not reject what is wrong.(K)
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness(L) to the skies.(M)
6 Your righteousness(N) is like the highest mountains,(O)
your justice like the great deep.(P)
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.(Q)
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!(R)
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.(S)
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;(T)
you give them drink from your river(U) of delights.(V)
9 For with you is the fountain of life;(W)
in your light(X) we see light.
10 Continue your love(Y) to those who know you,(Z)
your righteousness to the upright in heart.(AA)
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked(AB) drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!(AC)
Psalm 37[c]
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious(AD) of those who do wrong;(AE)
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,(AF)
like green plants they will soon die away.(AG)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land(AH) and enjoy safe pasture.(AI)
4 Take delight(AJ) in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.(AK)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him(AL) and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward(AM) shine like the dawn,(AN)
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still(AO) before the Lord
and wait patiently(AP) for him;
do not fret(AQ) when people succeed in their ways,(AR)
when they carry out their wicked schemes.(AS)
8 Refrain from anger(AT) and turn from wrath;
do not fret(AU)—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,(AV)
but those who hope(AW) in the Lord will inherit the land.(AX)
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;(AY)
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land(AZ)
and enjoy peace and prosperity.(BA)
12 The wicked plot(BB) against the righteous
and gnash their teeth(BC) at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.(BD)
14 The wicked draw the sword(BE)
and bend the bow(BF)
to bring down the poor and needy,(BG)
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,(BH)
and their bows will be broken.(BI)
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth(BJ) of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,(BK)
but the Lord upholds(BL) the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,(BM)
and their inheritance will endure forever.(BN)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:(BO)
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.(BP)
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;(BQ)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses(BR) will be destroyed.(BS)
23 The Lord makes firm the steps(BT)
of the one who delights(BU) in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,(BV)
for the Lord upholds(BW) him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(BX)
or their children begging(BY) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(BZ)
their children will be a blessing.[d](CA)
27 Turn from evil and do good;(CB)
then you will dwell in the land forever.(CC)
28 For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.(CD)
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed[e];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.(CE)
29 The righteous will inherit the land(CF)
and dwell in it forever.(CG)
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(CH)
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(CI)
their feet do not slip.(CJ)
32 The wicked lie in wait(CK) for the righteous,(CL)
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned(CM) when brought to trial.(CN)
34 Hope in the Lord(CO)
and keep his way.(CP)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed,(CQ) you will see(CR) it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing(CS) like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.(CT)
37 Consider the blameless,(CU) observe the upright;(CV)
a future awaits those who seek peace.[f](CW)
38 But all sinners(CX) will be destroyed;(CY)
there will be no future[g] for the wicked.(CZ)
39 The salvation(DA) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.(DB)
40 The Lord helps(DC) them and delivers(DD) them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves(DE) them,
because they take refuge(DF) in him.
Psalm 38[h]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(DG)
2 Your arrows(DH) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(DI) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(DJ) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(DK) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(DL)
5 My wounds(DM) fester and are loathsome(DN)
because of my sinful folly.(DO)
6 I am bowed down(DP) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(DQ)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(DR)
there is no health(DS) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(DT)
I groan(DU) in anguish of heart.(DV)
9 All my longings(DW) lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing(DX) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(DY) my strength fails(DZ) me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.(EA)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(EB)
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(EC)
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(ED)
all day long they scheme and lie.(EE)
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(EF)
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(EG) for you;
you will answer,(EH) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(EI)
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(EJ)
17 For I am about to fall,(EK)
and my pain(EL) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(EM)
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(EN) without cause[i];
those who hate me(EO) without reason(EP) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(EQ)
lodge accusations(ER) against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
Footnotes
- Psalm 36:1 In Hebrew texts 36:1-12 is numbered 36:2-13.
- Psalm 36:1 Or A message from God: The transgression of the wicked / resides in their hearts.
- Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
- Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
- Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
- Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
- Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.