Amplified Bible
Psalms 37:21
21The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives.
Psalms 37:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
- New International Version (NIV)The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
- English Standard Version (ESV)The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
- New King James Version (NKJV)The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
Context of Psalms 37:21
19They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty and be satisfied. 20But the wicked (ungodly) will perish, And the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures and like the fat of lambs [that is consumed in smoke], They vanish—like smoke they vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and kind and gives. 22For those blessed by God will [at last] inherit the land, But those cursed by Him will be cut off. 23The steps of a [good and righteous] man are directed and established by the Lord, And He delights in his way [and blesses his path].
Read all of Psalms 37Psalms 37:21 word by word
לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 37:21
- Deuteronomy 28:12The Lord will open for you His good treasure house, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.
- 2 Kings 4:1Now one of the wives of a man of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], saying “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the Lord; but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan].”
- Nehemiah 5:1Now there was a great outcry of the [poorer] people and their wives against their Jewish brothers [to whom they were deeply in debt].
- Proverbs 22:7The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.
- Psalms 112:5It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He conducts his affairs with justice.
- Deuteronomy 15:9Beware that there is no wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release (remission, pardon), is approaching,’ and your eye is hostile (unsympathetic) toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing [since he would not have to repay you]; for he may cry out to the Lord against you, and it will become a sin for you.
- Job 31:16“If I have withheld from the poor what they desired, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief],
- Isaiah 32:8But the noble man conceives noble and magnificent things; And he stands by what is noble and magnificent.
- Isaiah 58:7Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not to hide yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?
- Luke 6:30Give to everyone who asks of you. Whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
- Acts 11:29So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each according to his individual ability, to the believers who lived in Judea.
- Acts 20:35In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’ ”
- 2 Corinthians 8:9For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).
- 2 Corinthians 9:6Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed].
- Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do.
- Hebrews 13:16Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God.
Commentaries on Psalms 37:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21The wicked borroweth - Is often reduced to penury, and is obliged to become debtor to those whom he before despised. And payeth not again - May refuse to do it, because he is a wicked man; or be unable to do it, because he is reduced to beggary. But the righteous showeth mercy - Because he has received mercy from God, therefore he shows mercy to men. And even to his enemies he showeth mercy, and giveth; his heart being disposed to it by the influence of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again - This is probably intended here, not so much to describe the “character” as the “condition” of the wicked. The idea is, that he will be in such a condition of want that he will be under a necessity of borrowing, but will not have the means of repaying what he has borrowed, while the righteous will not only have enough for himself, but will have the means of showing mercy to others, and of “giving” to them what…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-33Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21To borrow and never repay shows a dishonest way of life. Generous givers freely share what they freely receive from the Lord (see Psalm 111:5; 112:5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2221-22. payeth not--not able; having grown poor (compare De 15:7). Ability of the one and inability of the other do not exclude moral dispositions. God's blessing or cursing makes the difference.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 37:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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