Psalm 97:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

NIV: Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

NASB: Hate evil, you who love the Lord, Who watches over the souls of His godly ones; He saves them from the hand of the wicked.

CSB: You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked.

NLT: You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked.

KJV: Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

NKJV: You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 97:10–12 summons the Lord's people to be holy. Hating evil is the same as loving goodness, which only comes from God (Proverbs 8:13). Prior verses spoke of judgment coming for those who rejected the Lord God. In contrast, those who belong to Him will be rescued.

The psalmist writes as if seeing God's completed judgment and rule over the earth (Revelation 20:4). This is described in dramatic terms; God's holiness and wrath are expressed by darkness, lightning, and fire. Yet the world also experiences His goodness and perfect justice. Those who believed in false gods are ashamed, but God's people celebrate. Those who hate evil and love God's goodness (Proverbs 8:13) should express gratitude to the Lord.

Psalms 24, 27, 93, and 95—99 are "enthronement" psalms. These express joy at God ruling over the entire world. Many look forward to when this rule is direct and personal (Revelation 20:4). This psalm speaks from an end-times perspective when the Lord has returned to bring judgment and justice. It does so more than the others in this group.

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.

Accessed 11/22/2024 11:24:42 AM