From Psalms to Beatitudes

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For Robert's growing PsalmChallenge meme, here is today's Psalm 37.
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1. Of David.

Do not be vexed by evil men; do not be envious of wrongdoers.

2. For they soon wither like grass, like green plants they fade away.

3. Trust in the LORD and do good; abide in the land and keep faith.

4. Delight in the LORD and He will grant you your heart’s desires.

5. Commit your way to the LORD; place your trust in Him; He will act.

6. He will bring out your righteousness like the sun, the justice of your case, like the midday.

7. Be still before the LORD and wait for Him; do not be vexed by the man whose way prospers, who carries out his schemes.

8. Desist from anger, abandon fury, do not be vexed; it can only bring evil.

9. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD―they shall inherit the land.

10. In just a little while, there will be no wicked man; you will look for his place―he is not there.

11. But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight in abundant peace.

וַעֲנָוִים יִירְשׁוּ-אָרֶץ

12. The wicked man schemes against the righteous, and gnashes his teeth at him.

13. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his time is coming.

14. The wicked unsheathe their swords and bend their bows, to bring down the lowly and needy, to slaughter men of upright ways.

15. Their sword shall come into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16. Better the little that the righteous man has than the wealth of many wicked.

17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, while the LORD sustains the support of the righteous.

18. The LORD knows the time of the blameless; their portion lasts forever.

19. They shall not be put to shame in evil years; in time of famine, they shall eat their fill.

20. For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD, like meadow vegetation—vanished in smoke, vanished.

21. The wicked man is a borrower who will not repay; the righteous is a constantly generous giver.

22. Indeed, those blessed by Him shall inherit the land, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

23. A man’s steps are made firm by the LORD, and He delights in his way.

24. Though he trips, he does not fall down,

for the LORD holds him by the hand.

מֵיְהוָה, מִצְעֲדֵי-גֶבֶר כּוֹנָנוּ; וְדַרְכּוֹ יֶחְפָּץ
כד כִּי-יִפֹּל לֹא-יוּטָל: כִּי-יְהוָה, סוֹמֵךְ יָדוֹ

25. A lad was I, and now I am old, but I have never seen a righteous man abandoned, or his children seeking bread.

26. At all times he is generous and lends, and his children are a blessing.

27. Shun evil and do good, that you may abide forever.

28. For the LORD loves what is just, He does not abandon His faithful; they are maintained forever, while the children of the wicked will be cut off.

29. The righteous shall inherit the land, and abide eternally in it.

30. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

31. The teaching of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.

32. The wicked looks for the righteous, and seeks to slay him.

33. The LORD will not abandon him to his hand; He will not let him be condemned in judgment.

34. Look to the LORD and maintain His way, and He will exalt you that you may inherit the land; you shall see the wicked cut off.

35. I saw a ruthless wicked man thriving like a luxuriant native tree.

36. He passes on and behold―he is not there; I seek him, but he is not to be found.

37. Mark the man of integrity, and behold the upright; for there is a future for the man of peace.
[or: 37. See and maintain innocence and uprightness, for there is a future for the man of peace.]
שְׁמָר-תָּם, וּרְאֵה יָשָׁר: כִּי-אַחֲרִית לְאִישׁ שָׁלוֹם

38. But transgressors all shall be utterly destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

39. The deliverance of the righteous is from the LORD, their stronghold in periods of distress.

40. The LORD will help them and rescue them, shall rescue them from the wicked and deliver them, for they take refuge in Him.
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Photos:
1. The entrance lane of the Church of the Beatitudes is lined with the eight Beatitudes spoken by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. Psalm 37:11 entered the New Testament in Matthew 5:5.

2-3. Grandson Dean in his younger years at a favorite hiking place near my home.
4. Dean at a wintery Western Wall.
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The translation I used today is by Rabbi Benjamin Segal, with the addition of an alternative for verse 37.
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The Hebrew original is at Mechon Mamre.
If you'd like to see or try to pronounce the Hebrew words, see them transliterated here: hebrewsongs.com .
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