How Not to be Anxious

August 7, 2022 - Bart Moseman

Psalm 37

[1] Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! [2] For they will soon

fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. [3] Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in

the land and befriend faithfulness. [4] Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the

desires of your heart. [5] Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. [6] He will

bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. [7] Be still before

the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

over the man who carries out evil devices! [8] Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself;

it tends only to evil. [9] For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the

LORD shall inherit the land. [10] In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you

look carefully at his place, he will not be there. [11] But the meek shall inherit the land and

delight themselves in abundant peace. [12] The wicked plots against the righteous and

gnashes his teeth at him, [13] but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is

coming. [14] The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and

needy, to slay those whose way is upright; [15] their sword shall enter their own heart, and their

bows shall be broken. [16] Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of

many wicked. [17] For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the

righteous. [18] The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain

forever; [19] they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have

abundance. [20] But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the

pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. [21] The wicked borrows but does not

pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; [22] for those blessed by the LORD shall

inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. [23] The steps of a man are

established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; [24] though he fall, he shall not be cast

headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. [25] I have been young, and now am old, yet I have

not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. [26] He is ever lending

generously, and his children become a blessing. [27] Turn away from evil and do good; so shall

you dwell forever. [28] For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are

preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. [29] The righteous shall inherit

the land and dwell upon it forever. [30] The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his

tongue speaks justice. [31] The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. [32] The

wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. [33] The LORD will not

abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. [34] Wait for the

LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the

wicked are cut off. [35] I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green

laurel tree. [36] But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he

could not be found. [37] Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the

man of peace. [38] But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked

shall be cut off. [39] The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in

the time of trouble. [40] The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the

wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (ESV)