PSALM 37: If a drunkard wishes to give up drinking

If a drunkard wishes to give up drinking, he should read this psalm always on water, drink part of it and wash his head with the rest. Its prayer is the prayer under Psalm 16.

Psalm 37

1 Do not be preoccupied with evildoers.
    Do not envy those who do wicked things.
2 They will quickly dry up like grass
    and wither away like green plants.
3 Trust Yahweh, and do good things.
    Live in the land, and practice being faithful.
4 Be happy with Yahweh,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Entrust your ways to Yahweh.
    Trust him, and he will act on your behalf.
6 He will make your righteousness shine like a light,
    your just cause like the noonday sun.
7 Surrender yourself to Yahweh, and wait patiently for him.
    Do not be preoccupied with an evildoer who succeeds in his way
        when he carries out his schemes.
8 Let go of anger, and leave rage behind.
    Do not be preoccupied.
        It only leads to evil.
9 Evildoers will be cut off from their inheritance,
    but those who wait with hope for Yahweh will inherit the land.

10 In a little while a wicked person will vanish.
    Then you can carefully examine where he was,
        but there will be no trace of him.
11 Oppressed people will inherit the land
    and will enjoy unlimited peace.
12 The wicked person plots against a righteous one
    and grits his teeth at him.
13 Adonay laughs at him
    because he has seen that his time is coming.
14 Wicked people pull out their swords and bend their bows
    to kill oppressed and needy people,
    to slaughter those who are decent.
15 But their own swords will pierce their hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.
16 The little that the righteous person has is better
    than the wealth of many wicked people.
17 The arms of wicked people will be broken,
    but Yahweh continues to support righteous people.
18 Yahweh knows the daily struggles of innocent people.
    Their inheritance will last forever.
19 They will not be put to shame in trying times.
    Even in times of famine they will be satisfied.
20 But wicked people will disappear.
    Yahweh’s enemies will vanish like the best part of a meadow.
    They will vanish like smoke.
21 A wicked person borrows, but he does not repay.
    A righteous person is generous and giving.
22 Those who are blessed by him will inherit the land.
    Those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

23 A person’s steps are directed by Yahweh,
    and Yahweh delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be thrown down headfirst
    because Yahweh holds on to his hand.
25 I have been young, and now I am old,
    but I have never seen a righteous person abandoned
        or his descendants begging for food.
26 He is always generous and lends freely.
    His descendants are a blessing.
27 Avoid evil, do good, and live forever.
28 Yahweh loves justice,
    and he will not abandon his godly ones.
    They will be kept safe forever,
    but the descendants of wicked people will be cut off.
29 Righteous people will inherit the land
    and live there permanently.
30 The mouth of the righteous person reflects on wisdom.
    His tongue speaks what is fair.
31 The teachings of his Elohim are in his heart.
    His feet do not slip.
32 The wicked person watches the righteous person
    and seeks to kill him.
33 But Yahweh will not abandon him to the wicked person’s power
    or condemn him when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait with hope for Yahweh, and follow his path,
    and he will honor you by giving you the land.
        When wicked people are cut off, you will see it.

35 I have seen a wicked person acting like a tyrant,
    spreading himself out like a large cedar tree.
36 But he moved on, and now there is no trace of him.
    I searched for him, but he could not be found.
37 Notice the innocent person,
    and look at the decent person,
        because the peacemaker has a future.
38 But rebels will be completely destroyed.
    The future of wicked people will be cut off.
39 The victory for righteous people comes from Yahweh.
    He is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 Yahweh helps them and rescues them.
    He rescues them from wicked people.
    He saves them because they have taken refuge in him.

PRAYER:

Psalm 16

1 Protect me, O El, because I take refuge in you.

2 I said to Yahweh,

    “You are my Adonay. Without you, I have nothing good.”

3 Those who lead holy lives on earth

    are the noble ones who fill me with joy.

4 Those who quickly chase after other gods multiply their sorrows.

    I will not pour out their sacrificial offerings of blood

        or use my lips to speak their names.

5 Yahweh is my inheritance and my cup.

    You are the one who determines my destiny.

6 Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me.

    Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful.

7 I will praise Yahweh, who advises me.

    My conscience warns me at night.

8 I always keep Yahweh in front of me.

    When he is by my side, I cannot be moved.

9         That is why my heart is glad and my soul rejoices.

            My body rests securely

10 because you do not abandon my soul to the grave

    or allow your holy one to decay.

11 You make the path of life known to me.

    Complete joy is in your presence.

        Pleasures are by your side forever.