Psalms 37:23-29

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.^[a]

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^[b] ; the offspring of the wicked will perish.

29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

Psalms 37:23-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 37

\\<<[A Psalm] of David>>\\. This psalm, it is very probable, was written at the same time, and upon the same occasion, with the former; and describes the different states of good and bad men; and is full of exhortations, instructions, and advice to the people of God; intermixed with various encouraging promises. A late learned writer {h} thinks it was written for Mephibosheth's consolation under Ziba's calumny. {h} Delaney's Life of King David, vol. 2. p. 219.

Cross References

• 1. S Numbers 14:8; Psalms 147:11
• 2. S Job 11:15; S Psalms 7:9; Psalms 66:9; 1 Samuel 2:9
• 3. S Psalms 13:4; Psalms 27:2; Psalms 38:17; Psalms 55:22; Psalms 119:165; Proverbs 3:23; Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 24:16
• 4. 2 Chronicles 9:8; Psalms 41:12; Psalms 145:14; Psalms 147:6
• 5. ver 28; S Genesis 15:1; Hebrews 13:5
• 6. Psalms 111:5; Psalms 145:15; Mark 10:46
• 7. S Leviticus 25:35
• 8. Deuteronomy 28:4; Psalms 112:2; Psalms 147:13
• 9. Psalms 34:14; 3 John 1:11
• 10. S Numbers 24:21
• 11. S Deuteronomy 7:6; S Psalms 18:25; S Psalms 97:10
• 12. S Genesis 17:14; S Deuteronomy 32:26; Proverbs 2:22; Psalms 21:10; Isaiah 14:20
• 13. ver 9; Proverbs 2:21
• 14. Isaiah 34:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "freely;" / "the names of their children will be used in blessings" (see Gen. 48:20); or "freely;" / "others will see that their children are blessed"
• [b]. See Septuagint; Hebrew "They will be protected forever"