Psalm 37:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed ; the offspring of the wicked will perish.

NASB: For the Lord loves justice And does not abandon His godly ones; They are protected forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.

CSB: For the Lord loves justice and will not abandon his faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed.

NLT: 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.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: 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.

Keeping with the theme of God's perspective on good and evil (Psalm 37:27), David reminds the reader of the Lord's love of justice and His faithfulness to the righteous. Because He is good and loves what is right, we can trust Him to do the right thing in every time and every situation. He will never abandon the righteous. Even in times of hardship (John 16:33; Psalm 34:19), God is with His people.

Hebrews 13:5 encourages believers not to be discouraged about what we have, for that very reason. God promises to keep those who come to Him in faith, with an absolute guarantee (John 10:28). When Peter described the inheritance of the Lord's people as being kept in heaven for them, he also described the Lord's people as being guarded by God's power through faith (1 Peter 1:4–5).

In contrast, the God who loves justice will not allow the wicked and their children to endure. This verse says they will be cut off; this is a reference to utter destruction. Those who do evil in the world can usually expect to suffer the natural consequences of that sin (Romans 1:24–28; Isaiah 14:22). That leads to ruin both for them and the descendants they teach to follow in their footsteps (Exodus 34:6–7).

Psalm 37:21–31 points out the blessings of the righteous. David describes not only their blessings but also their character and conduct. The Lord blesses the righteous with the promise of an inheritance, personal guidance, protection, provision, a good posterity, and His presence.

In this psalm, David contrasts the way God protects and saves His people, contrasted with the ruin which awaits the wicked. Much of this seems to be based on David's own experiences (Psalm 37:25, 35). As with many other passages in Psalms and Proverbs, this passage encourages godly wisdom. Those who reject God and His ways can expect uncertainty on earth and disaster in eternity.

Psalm 37 lies in the first division of Psalms and addresses mankind. Its tone resembles that of the book of Proverbs. The psalm dispenses wisdom about the security of the righteous man and the insecurity and fate of the wicked man. Psalms 36 and 39 also describe the insecurity and fate of the wicked. The covenant God made with Israel in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27—30 is the basis for David's assurance that the righteous are secure. The issue of the prosperity of the wicked is also featured in Psalms 49 and 73. David most likely wrote Psalm 37 in his old age.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.