Psalms 37:21

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 shall not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume, like smoke shall they consume away. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; but the righteous is gracious and giveth: 22for those blessed of him shall possess the land, and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off. 23The steps of a man are established by Jehovah, and he delighteth in his way:

Psalms 37:21 word by word

לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃Read the interlinear

• wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662

Cross-references for Psalms 37:21

• Deuteronomy 28:12Jehovah will open to thee his good treasure, the heavens, to give rain unto thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow.
• 2 Kings 4:1And a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha saying, Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant feared Jehovah; and the creditor is come to take my two children to be bondmen.
• Nehemiah 5:1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
• Proverbs 22:7The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.
• Psalms 112:5It is well with the man that is gracious and lendeth; he will sustain his cause in judgment.
• Deuteronomy 15:9Beware that there be not a wicked thought in thy heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry against thee to Jehovah, and it be sin in thee.
• Job 31:16If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
• Isaiah 32:8But the noble deviseth noble things; and to noble things doth he stand.
• Isaiah 58:7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring to thy house the needy wanderers; when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
• Luke 6:30To every one that asks of thee, give; and from him that takes away what is thine, ask it not back.
• Acts 11:29And they determined, according as any one of the disciples was well off, each of them to send to the brethren who dwelt in Judaea, to minister [to them];
• Acts 20:35I have shewed you all things, that thus labouring [we] ought to come in aid of the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might be enriched.
• 2 Corinthians 9:6But this [is true], he that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows in [the spirit of] blessing shall reap also in blessing:
• Hebrews 6:10For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work, and the love which ye have shewn to his name, having ministered to the saints, and [still] ministering.
• Hebrews 13:16But of doing good and communicating [of your substance] be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

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

• Borrowing
• Character
• Dishonesty
• Poor
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Borrow
• Cease
• Commit
• Consume
• Cut
• Forsake
• Mark
• Poetry
• Trust
• Wisdom

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