Psalm 37
Words: Brady and Tate, A New Version of the Psalms of David
1 Tho' wicked men grow rich or great,
yet let not their successful state
Thy anger or thy envy raise:
2 For they, cut down like tender grass,
or like young flow'rs, away shall pass,
Whose blooming beauty soon decays.
3 Depend on God, and him obey;
so thou within the land shalt stay,
Secure from danger and from want:
4 Make his commands thy chief delight;
and he, thy duty to requite,
Shall all thy earnest wishes grant.
5 In all thy ways trust thou the Lord,
and he will needful help afford
To perfect ev'ry just design:
6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear,
thy clouded innocence appear,
And as a midday sun to shine.
7 With quiet mind on God depend,
and patiently for him attend;
Nor let thy anger fondly rise:
Though wicked men with wealth abound,
and with success the plots are crowned,
Which they maliciously devise.
8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake;
let no ungoverned passion make
Thy wav'ring heart espouse their crime:
9 For God shall sinful men destroy;
whilst only they the land enjoy,
Who trust 0n him, and wait his time.
10 How soon shall wicked men decay!
their place shall vanish quite away,
nor by the strictest search be found;
11 Whilst humble souls possess the earth,
rejoicing still with godly mirth,
With peace and plenty always crowned.
The Second Part.
12 While sinful crowds, with false design,
against the righteous few combine,
And gnash their teeth and threat'ning stand;
13 God shall their empty plots deride,
and laugh at their defeated pride;
He sees their ruin near at hand.
14 They draw the sword, and bend the bow,
the poor and needy to o'erthrow,
And men of upright lives to slay;
15 But their strong bows shall soon be broke,
their sharpened weapon's mortal stroke
Through their own hearts shall force its way.
16 A little, with God's favor blessed,
that's by one righteous man possessed,
The wealth of many bad excels:
17 For God supports the just man's cause,
but as for those that break his laws,
Their unsuccessful pow'r he quells.
18 His constant care the upright guides,
and over all their life presides;
Their portion shall for ever last:
19 They, when distress o'erwhelms the earth,
shall be unmoved, and e'en in dearth
The happy fruits of plenty taste.
20 Not so the wicked men, and those
who proudly dare God's will oppose;
Destruction is their hapless share:
Like fat of lambs, their hopes and they
shall in an instant melt away,
And vanish into smoke and air.
The Third Part
21 While sinners, brought to sad decay,
still borrow on and never pay,
The just have will and pow'r to give;
22 For such as God vouchsafes to bless,
shall peaceably the earth possess,
And those he curses shall not live.
23 The good man's way is God's delight,
he orders all the steps aright
Of him that moves by his command;
24 Though he sometimes may be distressed,
yet shall he ne'er be quite oppressed,
For God upholds him with his hand.
25 From my first youth, till age prevailed,
I never saw the righteous failed,
Or want o'ertake his num'rous race;
26 Because compassion filled his heart,
and he did cheerfully impart,
God made his offspring's wealth increase.
27 With caution shun each wicked deed,
in virtue's ways with zeal proceed,
And so prolong your happy days:
28 For God, who judgment loves, does still
preserve his saints secure from ill,
While soon the wicked race decays.
29,30,31 The upright shall possess the land,
his portion shall for ages stand;
His mouth with wisdom is supplied;
His tongue by rules of judgment moves,
his heart the law of God approves,
Therefore his footsteps never slide.
The Fourth Part.
32 In wait the watchful sinner lies,
in vain the righteous to surprise;
In vain his ruin doth decree:
33 God will not him defenseless leave,
to his revenge exposed, but save;
And, when he's sentenced, set him free.
34 Wait still on God, keep his command,
and thou, exalted in the land,
Thy blessed possession ne'er shalt quit:
The wicked soon destroyed shall be,
and, at his dismal tragedy,
Thou shalt a safe spectator sit.
35 The wicked I in pow'r have seen,
and like a bay tree, fresh and green,
That spreads its pleasant branches round;
36 But he was gone as swift as thought,
and, though in every place I sought,
No sign or track of him I found.
37 Observe the perfect man with care,
and mark all such as upright are;
Their roughest days in peace shall end:
38 While on the latter end of those,
who dare God's sacred will oppose,
A common ruin shall attend.
39 God to the just will aid afford,
their only safeguard is the Lord;
Their strength in time of need is he:
40 Because on him they stiff depend,
the Lord will timely succor send,
And from the wicked set them free.
