Psalms 37:38

38 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future[a] for the wicked.

Psalms 37:38 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
New Living Translation (NLT)
38 But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.
The Message Bible (MSG)
38 But the willful will soon be discarded; insolent souls are on a dead-end street.
American Standard Version (ASV)
38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; The end of the wicked shall be cut off.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
38 But rebels will be completely destroyed. The future of wicked people will be cut off.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
38 But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
38 But all sinners will be destroyed. Those who are evil won't have a tomorrow. They will be cut off from the land.

Psalms 37:38 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 37:38

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together
This is to be understood of obstinate and continued transgressors, who live and die in their transgressions; see ( Proverbs 11:3 ) ; otherwise all men are transgressors in Adam, and sinned and fell with him in his transgression; and are justly called transgressors from the womb; and are guilty of actual transgressions, nor are any clear from them; and are arraigned, convinced, and judged by the law as transgressors; and for many of these Christ died, and makes intercession; and who are converted, and turned from their transgressions; and these are pardoned, and saved, and not destroyed: but stubborn and perverse transgressors are destroyed; not only with a temporal destruction of their substance, and of their names, and they themselves are rooted out of the earth; but with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power; for this seems to refer to the day of judgment, when all the wicked will be "together"; and shall in a body stand at Christ's left hand, and be bid to go, "ye cursed into everlasting fire", ( Matthew 25:41 ) , and shall be turned into hell at once, and together;

the end of the wicked shall be cut off;
meaning either their posterity, as the word is rendered in ( Psalms 109:13 ) ; or their hope and expectation of good things here and hereafter; when the righteous man receives the end of his faith, hope, and expectation, even the salvation of his soul; but these shall be disappointed and frustrated of their end; see ( Proverbs 23:18 ) ; or their last end is cutting off from the presence and sight of God, utter ruin and destruction; and so it stands opposed to the end of the perfect and upright man, which is eternal peace and happiness.

Psalms 37:38 In-Context

36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Cross References 3

  • 1. S Psalms 1:1
  • 2. S ver 2; Psalms 73:19
  • 3. ver 9; Psalms 1:4

Footnotes 1

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