Rejoice in the Lord
(1 Kings 2:1-9)
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A psalm of David. Do not be irritated because of evildoers; do not be envious of those who act unrighteously.
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For they will soon dry up as the grass and wither as the green plants.
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Trust in Yahweh and do what is good; settle in the land and graze in faithfulness.
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Then delight yourself in Yahweh, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
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Give your ways to Yahweh; trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
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He will display your justice like the daylight and your innocence like the day at noon.
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Be still before Yahweh and wait patiently for him. Do not be angry if someone succeeds in what he does, or when he makes evil plots.
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Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not worry. This only makes trouble.
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Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for Yahweh will inherit the land.
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In a little while the evil man will disappear; you will look at his place, but he will be gone.
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But the meek will inherit the land and will delight in great prosperity.
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The wicked man plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth against him.
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The Lord laughs at him, for he sees that his day is coming.
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The wicked have drawn out their swords and have bent their bows to cast down the oppressed and needy, to kill those who are upright.
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Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
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Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked people.
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For the arms of the wicked people will be broken, but Yahweh supports the righteous people.
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Yahweh watches over the blameless day by day, and their heritage will be forever.
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They will not be ashamed when times are bad. When famine comes, they will have enough to eat.
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But evil men will perish. Yahweh’s enemies will be like the glory of the pastures; they will be consumed and disappear in the smoke.
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The wicked person borrows but does not repay, but the righteous person is generous and gives.
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Those who are blessed by God will inherit the land; those who are cursed by him will be cut off.
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It is by Yahweh that a man’s steps are established, the man whose way is commendable in God’s sight.
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Though he stumbles, he will not fall down, for Yahweh is holding him with his hand.
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I was young and now am old; I have never seen the righteous person abandoned or his children begging for bread.
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All the day long he is gracious and lends, and his children become a blessing.
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Turn away from evil and do what is right; then you will be safe forever.
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For Yahweh loves justice and does not abandon his faithful followers. They are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
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The righteous will inherit the land and live there forever.
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The mouth of the righteous person speaks wisdom and increases justice.
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The law of his God is in his heart; his feet will not slip.
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The wicked person watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him.
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Yahweh will not abandon him into the evil person’s hand or condemn him when he is judged.
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Wait for Yahweh and keep his way, and he will raise you up to possess the land. You will see when the wicked are cut off.
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I have seen the wicked and terrifying person spread out like a green tree in its native soil.
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But when I passed by again, he was not there. I looked for him, but he could not be found.
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Observe the man of integrity, and mark the upright; there is a good future for a man of peace.
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Sinners will be totally destroyed; the future for the wicked man is cut off.
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Salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh; he protects them in the times of trouble.
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Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He rescues them from evil men and saves them because they have taken refuge in him.
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