Psalms 37

• 1. Don't worry about the wicked. Don't envy those who do wrong.
• 2. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.
• 3. Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
• 4. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.
• 5. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.
• 6. He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
• 7. Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
• 8. Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others--it only leads to harm.
• 9. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.
• 10. In a little while, the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.
• 11. Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in prosperous security.
• 12. The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.
• 13. But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.
• 14. The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.
• 15. But they will be stabbed through the heart with their own swords, and their bows will be broken.
• 16. It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and possess much.
• 17. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly.
• 18. Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive a reward that lasts forever.
• 19. They will survive through hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.
• 20. But the wicked will perish. The LORD's enemies are like flowers in a field--they will disappear like smoke.
• 21. The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.
• 22. Those blessed by the LORD will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will die.
• 23. The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives.
• 24. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.
• 25. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread.
• 26. The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.
• 27. Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.
• 28. For the LORD loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will perish.
• 29. The godly will inherit the land and will live there forever.
• 30. The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong.
• 31. They fill their hearts with God's law, so they will never slip from his path.
• 32. Those who are evil spy on the godly, waiting for an excuse to kill them.
• 33. But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are brought before the judge.
• 34. Don't be impatient for the LORD to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.
• 35. I myself have seen it happen--proud and evil people thriving like mighty trees.
• 36. But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
• 37. Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.
• 38. But the wicked will be destroyed; they have no future.
• 39. The LORD saves the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.
• 40. The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

Psalms 38

• 1. O LORD, don't rebuke me in your anger! Don't discipline me in your rage!
• 2. Your arrows have struck deep, and your blows are crushing me.
• 3. Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins.
• 4. My guilt overwhelms me--it is a burden too heavy to bear.
• 5. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins.
• 6. I am bent over and racked with pain. My days are filled with grief.
• 7. A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken.
• 8. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart.
• 9. You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh.
• 10. My heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind.
• 11. My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance.
• 12. Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps for me; they make plans to ruin me. They think up treacherous deeds all day long.
• 13. But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.
• 14. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply.
• 15. For I am waiting for you, O LORD. You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
• 16. I prayed, "Don't let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall."
• 17. I am on the verge of collapse, facing constant pain.
• 18. But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
• 19. My enemies are many; they hate me though I have done nothing against them.
• 20. They repay me evil for good and oppose me because I stand for the right.
• 21. Do not abandon me, LORD. Do not stand at a distance, my God.
• 22. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior.

Psalms 39

• 1. I said to myself, "I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will curb my tongue when the ungodly are around me."
• 2. But as I stood there in silence--not even speaking of good things--the turmoil within me grew to the bursting point.
• 3. My thoughts grew hot within me and began to burn, igniting a fire of words:
• 4. "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away.
• 5. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath."
• 6. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend.
• 7. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
• 8. Rescue me from my rebellion, for even fools mock me when I rebel.
• 9. I am silent before you; I won't say a word. For my punishment is from you.
• 10. Please, don't punish me anymore! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
• 11. When you discipline people for their sins, their lives can be crushed like the life of a moth. Human existence is as frail as breath.
• 12. Hear my prayer, O LORD! Listen to my cries for help! Don't ignore my tears. For I am your guest--a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me.
• 13. Spare me so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.

New Living Translation: 179 of 324 days.