Psalm 37:21-33

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; ²² those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed. ²³ The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; ²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. ²⁵ I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. ²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.[1] ²⁷ Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. ²⁸ For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed [2] ; the offspring of the wicked will perish. ²⁹ The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. ³⁰ The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. ³¹ The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. ³² The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; ³³ but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

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Other Translations of Psalm 37:21-33

King James Version

²¹ The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. ²² For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. ²³ The steps of a good man are ordered ordered: or, established by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. ²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ²⁶ He is ever ever: Heb. all the day merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. ²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. ²⁸ For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. ²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. ³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps steps: or, goings shall slide. ³² The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. ³³ The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

English Standard Version

²¹ The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; ²² for those blessed by the Lord Hebrew by him shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. ²³ The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; ²⁴ though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. ²⁵ I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. ²⁶ He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. ²⁷ Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. ²⁸ For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. ²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. ³⁰ The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. ³² The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. ³³ The Lord will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

The Message

²¹ Wicked borrows and never returns; Righteous gives and gives. ²² Generous gets it all in the end; Stingy is cut off at the pass. ²³ Stalwart walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy. ²⁴ If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand. ²⁵ I once was young, now I'm a graybeard - not once have I seen an abandoned believer, or his kids out roaming the streets. ²⁶ Every day he's out giving and lending, his children making him proud. ²⁷ Turn your back on evil, work for the good and don't quit. ²⁸ God loves this kind of thing, never turns away from his friends. Live this way and you've got it made, but bad eggs will be tossed out. ²⁹ The good get planted on good land and put down healthy roots. ³⁰ Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone, rolls virtue around on his tongue. ³¹ His heart pumps God's Word like blood through his veins; his feet are as sure as a cat's. ³² Wicked sets a watch for Righteous, he's out for the kill. ³³ God, alert, is also on watch - Wicked won't hurt a hair of his head.

New King James Version

²¹ The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. ²² For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off. ²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. ²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. ²⁶ He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. ²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. ²⁸ For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. ²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever. ³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. ³² The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him. ³³ The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.

New Living Translation

²¹ The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. ²² Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die. ²³ The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. ²⁴ Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. ²⁵ Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. ²⁶ The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing. ²⁷ Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever. ²⁸ For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die. ²⁹ The godly will possess the land and will live there forever. ³⁰ The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. ³¹ They have made God's law their own, so they will never slip from his path. ³² The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them. ³³ But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 37:21-33

Commentary on Psalm 37:21-33

(Read Psalm 37:21-33)

The Lord our God requires that we do justly, and render to all their due. It is a great sin for those that are able, to deny the payment of just debts; it is a great misery not to be able to pay them. He that is truly merciful, will be ever merciful. We must leave our sins; learn to do well, and cleave to it. This is true religion. The blessing of God is the spring, sweetness, and security of all earthly enjoyments. And if we are sure of this, we are sure not to want any thing good for us in this world. By his grace and Holy Spirit, he directs the thoughts, affections, and designs of good men. By his providence he overrules events, so as to make their way plain. He does not always show them his way for a distance, but leads them step by step, as children are led. God will keep them from being ruined by their falls, either into sin or into trouble, though such as fall into sin will be sorely hurt. Few, if any, have known the consistent believer, or his children, reduced to abject, friendless want. God forsakes not his saints in affliction; and in heaven only the righteous shall dwell for ever; that will be their everlasting habitation. A good man may fall into the hands of a messenger of Satan, and be sorely buffeted, but God will not leave him in his enemy's hands.