Don't Fret Because of Evildoers

(1 Kings 2:1-9)

1{[A Psalm] of David.} Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, and be not envious of them that work unrighteousness;

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

ב

3Confide in Jehovah, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on faithfulness;

4and delight thyself in Jehovah, and he will give thee the desires of thy heart.

ג

5Commit thy way unto Jehovah, and rely upon him: he will bring [it] to pass;

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

ד

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

ה

8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; fret not thyself: it [would be] only to do evil.

9For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait on Jehovah, they shall possess the land.

ו

10For yet a little while, and the wicked is not; and thou considerest his place, but he is not.

11But the meek shall possess the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of prosperity.

ז

12The wicked plotteth against the righteous, and gnasheth his teeth against him.

13The Lord laugheth at him; for he seeth that his day is coming.

ח

14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the afflicted and needy, to slay those that are upright in [the] way:

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

ט

16The little that the righteous hath is better than the abundance of many wicked;

17for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.

י

18Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; and their inheritance shall be for ever:

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

כ

20For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume, like smoke shall they consume away.

ל

21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; but the righteous is gracious and giveth:

22for those blessed of him shall possess the land, and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.

מ

23The steps of a man are established by Jehovah, and he delighteth in his way:

24though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for Jehovah upholdeth his hand.

נ

25I have been young, and now am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread:

26all the day he is gracious and lendeth, and his seed shall be a blessing.

ס

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

28for Jehovah loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: They are preserved for ever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

פ

30The mouth of the righteous proffereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh judgment;

31the law of his God is in his heart; his goings shall not slide.

צ

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

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

ק

34Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, and he will exalt thee to possess the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].

ר

35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading like a green tree in its native soil:

36but he passed away, and behold, he was not; and I sought him, but he was not found.

ש

37Mark the perfect, and behold the upright, for the end of [that] man is peace;

38but the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

ת

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

40And Jehovah will help them and deliver them: he will deliver them from the wicked, and save them; for they trust in him.