EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Psalms 37:21
21If you lend money to a wicked person, he will not give it back to you. But righteous people are kind to others and they give things freely.
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
19When times of trouble come, they will still be safe. In a time of famine, they will have enough to eat. 20But wicked people will die. They are the Lord's enemies. They will disappear like smoke from a fire that burns them up. If you lend money to a wicked person, he will not give it back to you. But righteous people are kind to others and they give things freely. 22Yes, people that the Lord blesses will live safely in the land. But people that he has cursed will disappear. 23If the way that somebody lives pleases the Lord, the Lord will lead him into good things.
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 send rain from the clouds where he stores it. He will cause the rain to fall at the time when the land needs it. He will bless all the work that you do. You will lend money to the people of many nations. But you will not need anyone to lend money to you.
- 2 Kings 4:1There was a woman whose husband belonged to the group of prophets. When her husband died, she called out to Elisha for help. She said, ‘Your servant, my husband, is dead. He served the Lord faithfully. My husband was in debt to a certain man. Now that man wants to take my two children to be his slaves.’
- Nehemiah 5:1Some men and their wives were upset, because of the things that some other Jews were doing.
- Proverbs 22:7Rich people have authority over poor people. People who borrow money have to serve those who lend it to them.
- Psalms 112:5People who are kind and lend money to others, and who work in an honest way, will enjoy a good life.
- Deuteronomy 15:9Be careful not to think this wicked thought: ‘The seventh year will happen soon. That is the year when I must forgive people's debts. So I will not lend money to people at this time.’ Do not be cruel like that to another Israelite who is poor. Do not refuse to lend him anything. He might complain about you to the Lord. Then the Lord would say that you are guilty of a sin.
- Job 31:16I have never refused to help people who are poor. I have always helped widows to hope for good things.
- Isaiah 32:8But good people think of ways that they can be kind to others. They do the good things that they have decided to do.
- Isaiah 58:7Instead, share your food with hungry people. Give a place in your home to poor people who have no home. Give clothes to people who have nothing to wear. If people in your own family need help, do not refuse to help them.
- Luke 6:30When anyone asks you for something, give it to him. Someone may take something that belongs to you. If he does, let him keep it. Do not ask to have it back again.
- Acts 11:29The believers in Antioch wanted to help the other believers who lived in Judea. Each of them decided how much of their own money they could give.
- Acts 20:35In this way I have shown you how you should live. You should work well so that you may help sick or weak people. You should remember what Jesus himself said: “It may make you happy when you receive things. But it makes you more happy when you give things to someone.” ’
- 2 Corinthians 8:9You know that our Lord Jesus Christ is very kind. He was rich, but he made himself poor to help you. So then, because he became poor, you could become rich.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6Remember this: If a farmer plants only a few seeds, he will not get much as a result. But if he plants plenty of seeds, he will get a big harvest.
- Hebrews 6:10God is always right and fair. He will not forget all the good things that you have done. You have shown that you love him very much, because you have helped the other believers. And you continue to help them as God's servants.
- Hebrews 13:16Remember to be kind to other people. Share with them the things that you have. God is happy with sacrifices like that.
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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