Part 608

An exhortation to despise this world; and the short prosperity of the wicked; and to trust in Providence.

36:1. Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity.

36:2. For they shall shortly wither away as grass, and as the green herbs shall quickly fall.

36:3. Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou shalt be fed with its riches.

36:4. Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.

36:5. Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it.

36:6. And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

36:7. Be subject to the Lord and pray to him. Envy not the man who prospereth in his way; the man who doth unjust things.

36:8. Cease from anger, and leave rage; have no emulation to do evil.

36:9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the land.

36:10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: and thou shalt seek his place, and shalt not find it.

36:11. But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in abundance of peace.

36:12. The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him with his teeth.

36:13. But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foreseeth that his day shall come.

36:14. The wicked have drawn out the sword: they have bent their bow. To cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart.

36:15. Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow be broken.

36:16. Better is a little to the just, than the great riches of the wicked.

36:17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken in pieces; but the Lord strengtheneth the just.

36:18. The Lord knoweth the days of the undefiled; and their inheritance shall be for ever.

36:19. They shall not be confounded in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be filled:

36:20. Because the wicked shall perish. And the enemies of the Lord, presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to nothing and vanish like smoke.

36:21. The sinner shall borrow, and not pay again; but the just sheweth mercy and shall give.

36:22. For such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse him shall perish.

36:23. With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall like well his way.

36:24. When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth his hand under him.

36:25. I have been young and now am old; and I have not seen the just forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread.

36:26. He sheweth mercy, and lendeth all the day long; and his seed shall be in blessing.

36:27. Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever.