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Psalm 36-38
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 36-38
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 36
Human Wickedness and God’s Love
For the choir director. A psalm of David, the Lord’s servant.
1 An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
There is no dread of God before his eyes,(A)
2 for in his own eyes he flatters himself too much
to discover and hate his sin.(B)
3 The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive;(C)
he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.(D)
4 Even on his bed he makes malicious plans.(E)
He sets himself on a path that is not good
and does not reject evil.(F)
5 Lord, Your faithful love reaches to heaven,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.(G)
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains;
Your judgments, like the deepest sea.(H)
Lord, You preserve man and beast.(I)
7 God, Your faithful love is so valuable
that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.(J)
8 They are filled from the abundance of Your house;
You let them drink from Your refreshing stream,(K)
9 for with You is life’s fountain.(L)
In Your light we will see light.(M)
10 Spread Your faithful love over those who know You,
and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.(N)
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant man come near me
or the hand of the wicked one drive me away.(O)
12 There the evildoers fall;
they have been thrown down and cannot rise.(P)
Psalm 37
Instruction in Wisdom
Davidic.
1 Do[a] not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong.(Q)
2 For they wither quickly like grass
and wilt like tender green plants.(R)
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;(S)
dwell in the land and live securely.[b](T)
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.(U)
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act,(V)
6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.(W)
7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;(X)
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.(Y)
8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.(Z)
9 For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land.[c](AA)
10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;
though you look for him, he will not be there.(AB)
11 But the humble will inherit the land[d](AC)
and will enjoy abundant prosperity.(AD)
12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.(AE)
13 The Lord laughs at him(AF)
because He sees that his day is coming.(AG)
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the[e] bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.(AH)
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.(AI)
16 The little that the righteous man has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.(AJ)
17 For the arms[f] of the wicked will be broken,(AK)
but the Lord supports the righteous.(AL)
18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.(AM)
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.(AN)
20 But the wicked will perish;
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.(AO)
21 The wicked man borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.(AP)
22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,[g]
but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.(AQ)
23 A man’s steps are established by the Lord,
and He takes pleasure in his way.(AR)
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand.[h](AS)
25 I have been young and now I am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned
or his children begging for bread.(AT)
26 He is always generous, always lending,
and his children are a blessing.(AU)
27 Turn away from evil and do what is good,
and dwell there[i] forever.(AV)
28 For the Lord loves justice
and will not abandon His faithful ones.(AW)
They are kept safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.(AX)
29 The righteous will inherit the land[j]
and dwell in it permanently.(AY)
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.(AZ)
31 The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter.(BA)
32 The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and seeks to kill him;(BB)
33 the Lord will not leave him
in the power of the wicked one
or allow him to be condemned when he is judged.(BC)
34 Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.
You will watch when the wicked are destroyed.(BD)
35 I have seen a wicked, violent man
well-rooted[k] like a flourishing native tree.(BE)
36 Then I passed by and[l] noticed he was gone;
I searched for him, but he could not be found.(BF)
37 Watch the blameless and observe the upright,
for the man of peace will have a future.[m](BG)
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated;
the future[n] of the wicked will be destroyed.(BH)
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
their refuge in a time of distress.(BI)
40 The Lord helps and delivers them;
He will deliver them from the wicked and will save them
because they take refuge in Him.(BJ)
Psalm 38
Prayer of a Suffering Sinner
A Davidic psalm for remembrance.(BK)
1 Lord, do not punish me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.(BL)
2 For Your arrows have sunk into me,
and Your hand has pressed down on me.(BM)
3 There is no health in my body
because of Your indignation;
there is no strength[o] in my bones
because of my sin.(BN)
4 For my sins have flooded over my head;
they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.(BO)
5 My wounds are foul and festering
because of my foolishness.(BP)
6 I am bent over and brought low;
all day long I go around in mourning.(BQ)
7 For my loins are full of burning pain,
and there is no health in my body.(BR)
8 I am faint and severely crushed;
I groan because of the anguish of my heart.(BS)
9 Lord, my every desire is known to[p] You;
my sighing is not hidden from You.(BT)
10 My heart races, my strength leaves me,
and even the light of my eyes has faded.[q](BU)
11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction,
and my relatives stand at a distance.(BV)
12 Those who seek my life set traps,
and those who want to harm me threaten to destroy me;
they plot treachery all day long.(BW)
13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.
I am like a speechless person
who does not open his mouth.(BX)
14 I am like a man who does not hear
and has no arguments in his mouth.(BY)
15 I put my hope in You, Lord;
You will answer, Lord my God.(BZ)
16 For I said, “Don’t let them rejoice over me—
those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.”(CA)
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is constantly with me.(CB)
18 So I confess my guilt;
I am anxious because of my sin.(CC)
19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful;[r]
many hate me for no reason.(CD)
20 Those who repay evil for good
attack me for pursuing good.(CE)
21 Lord, do not abandon me;
my God, do not be far from me.(CF)
22 Hurry to help me,
Lord, my Savior.(CG)
Footnotes
- Psalm 37:1 The lines of this poem form an acrostic.
- Psalm 37:3 Or and cultivate faithfulness
- Psalm 37:9 Or earth
- Psalm 37:11 Or earth
- Psalm 37:14 Lit their
- Psalm 37:17 Or power
- Psalm 37:22 Or earth
- Psalm 37:24 Or Lord supports with His hand
- Psalm 37:27 = dwell in the land
- Psalm 37:29 Or earth
- Psalm 37:35 Hb obscure
- Psalm 37:36 DSS, LXX, Syr, Vg, Jer; MT reads Then he passed away, and I
- Psalm 37:37 Or posterity
- Psalm 37:38 Or posterity
- Psalm 38:3 Hb shalom
- Psalm 38:9 Lit is in front of
- Psalm 38:10 Or and the light of my eyes—even that is not with me
- Psalm 38:19 Or numerous
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
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