June 18 Reading – Psalms 37-39

Psalms 37 ASV

1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.

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

3 Trust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness.

4 Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart.

5 Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.

6 And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, And thy justice as the noon-day.

7 Rest in Jehovah, 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.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing.

9 For evil-doers shall be cut off; But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land.

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

11 But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

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

13 The Lord will laugh at him; For he seeth that his day is coming.

14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way.

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

16 Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.

18 Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; And their inheritance shall be for ever.

19 They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; In smoke shall they consume away.

21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; But the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.

22 For such as are blessed of him shall inherit the land; And they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.

23 A man’s goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way.

24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand.

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

26 All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.

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

28 For Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

30 The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.

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

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

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

34 Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.

36 But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a happy end to the man of peace.

38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; The end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

40 And Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them; He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken refuge in him.

Psalms 38

1 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thy wrath; Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation; Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

4 For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness.

6 I am pained and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with burning; And there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am faint and sore bruised: I have groaned by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee.

10 My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me; And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all the day long.

13 But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14 Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in thee, O Jehovah, do I hope: Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.

18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

19 But mine enemies are lively, and are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20 They also that render evil for good Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.

21 Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me.

22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.

Psalms 39

1 For the Chief Musician, Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.

3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned: Then spake I with my tongue:

4 Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.

5 Behold, thou hast made my days as handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.

9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.

10 Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.

11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. Selah

12 Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

13 Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more.

Next Passage: Psalms 40-44

American Standard Version (ASV): Public Domain