Break the Power of the Wicked and Uphold the Righteous

Righteous God,

You are our salvation and stronghold, our deliverer and refuge.  Today we pray that you will break the power of the wicked around us.  Destroy wrongdoers and their ideological offspring; destroy the future of sinners and the corrupt.  Uphold the righteous by your merciful hand and do not forsake your faithful ones.  We pray in the powerful name of Christ, Amen!

"Do not fret because of those who are evil

    or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,

    like green plants they will soon die away.

    for those who are evil will be destroyed,

    but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

The wicked plot against the righteous

    and gnash their teeth at them;

but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

    for he knows their day is coming.   

The wicked draw the sword

    and bend the bow

to bring down the poor and needy,

    to slay those whose ways are upright.

But their swords will pierce their own hearts,

    and their bows will be broken.

The power of the wicked will be broken,

    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

the wicked will perish:

    They will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;

    the offspring of the wicked will perish.

The Lord will not leave [the righteous] in the power of the wicked.

Sinners will be destroyed;

    there will be no future for the wicked.

"The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;

    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

The Lord helps them and delivers them;

    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

    because they take refuge in him.

Turn from evil and do good;

    then you will dwell in the land forever.

For the Lord loves the just

    and will not forsake his faithful ones.

The righteous will inherit the land

    and dwell in it forever.

Hope in the Lord

    and keep his way.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright;

    a future awaits those who seek peace.

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,

    and their inheritance will endure forever.

In times of disaster they will not wither;

    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

The Lord makes firm the steps

    of the one who delights in him;

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,

    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

    or their children begging bread.

"Trust in the Lord and do good;

    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,

    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

    trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord

    and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

The power of the wicked will be broken,

    but the Lord upholds the righteous."

(adapted from Psalm 37 NIV)