18The days of the blameless are known to the Lord,

and their inheritance will endure forever.

19In times of disaster they will not wither;

in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

20But the wicked will perish:

The Lord’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,

they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

21The wicked borrow and do not repay,

but the righteous give generously;

22those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,

but those he curses will be cut off.

23If the Lord delights in a man’s way,

he makes his steps firm;

24though he stumble, he will not fall,

for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

25I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread.

26They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be blessed.

27Turn from evil and do good;

then you will dwell in the land forever.

28For the Lord loves the just

and will not forsake his faithful ones.

They will be protected forever,

but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

29the righteous will inherit the land

and dwell in it forever.

30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,

and his tongue speaks what is just.

31The law of his God is in his heart;

his feet do not slip.

32The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,

seeking their very lives;

33but the Lord will not leave them in their power

or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

34Wait for the Lord

and keep his way.

He will exalt you to inherit the land;

when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man

flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

36but he soon passed away and was no more;

though I looked for him, he could not be found.

37Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

there is a future^b for the man of peace.

38But all sinners will be destroyed;

the future^c of the wicked will be cut off.

39The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;

he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

40The Lord helps them and delivers them;

he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

because they take refuge in him.