EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Psalms 38:20
20When I do good things, they do evil things to me in return! I try to do what is right, but they turn against me.
Psalms 38:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.
Context of Psalms 38:20
18But I agree that I have done wrong things. I am sorry about my sins. 19I have many enemies and they are strong. They have no reason to hate me. When I do good things, they do evil things to me in return! I try to do what is right, but they turn against me. 21Lord, please do not leave me alone. Do not stay far away from me, my God! 22My Lord, you are the one who can save me, so come quickly to help me!
Read all of Psalms 38Psalms 38:20 word by word
וּמְשַׁלְּמֵ֣י רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִי תַּ֣חַת רָֽדְפִי טֽוֹב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 38:20
- Psalms 35:12When I do good things to help them, they pay me back with evil things! That makes me feel very sad and upset.
- Psalms 109:3They are all round me, and they say cruel things. I have done nothing against them, but they still attack me.
- 1 Samuel 19:4Jonathan spoke to his father Saul. He said good things about David. He said to Saul, ‘The king should not do anything bad against David. David is your servant. He has not done anything that is bad against you. Everything that he does really helps you.
- 1 Samuel 23:5So David and his men went to Keilah. They fought against the Philistines and they killed many of them. Also, they took away their animals. In that way, David saved the people who lived in Keilah.
- 1 Samuel 25:16They kept us safe while we took care of Nabal's sheep. They kept us safe all the time, during the day and at night.
- Jeremiah 18:20I have done good things for them, but they are paying me back with evil things. They have already dug a grave for me! Remember that I stood in front of you and I asked you to forgive them. I asked you not to be angry with them.
- Matthew 5:10Happy are the people who do what is right but other people hurt them because of it. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like that.
- John 10:32Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good things. The Father sent me to do them, and I have shown them to you. Which of those good things make you want to kill me with stones?’
- 1 Peter 3:13If you always try to do good things, then nobody should hurt you.
- 1 Peter 4:14People may insult you because you belong to Christ. But God will bless you when that happens. It shows that the Holy Spirit is with you. He is God's great Spirit.
- 1 John 3:12We should not be like Cain. He belonged to Satan and he even killed his brother, Abel. Why did he do that? Cain did bad things and he killed Abel because Abel did things that were right.
Commentaries on Psalms 38:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Because I follow the thing that good is - The translation is as bad as the sentence is awkward. טוב רדפי תחת tachath rodpi tob, because I follow goodness. There is a remarkable addition to this verse in the Arabic: "They have rejected me, the beloved one, as an abominable dead carcass; they have pierced my body with nails." I suppose the Arabic translator meant to refer this to Christ. None of the other Versions have any thing like this addition; only the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20They also that render evil for good - They whose characteristic it is to return evil for good, are opposed to me. This implies that those who were now seeking his ruin had been formerly benefitted by him. They were persons who cherished no grateful recollection of favors bestowed on them, but who found a pleasure in persecuting and wronging their benefactor. Compare Psalm 35:12-16. “Are my adversaries.” Are now opposed to me; have become my enemies…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-22Verses 12-22 Wicked men hate goodness, even when they benefit by it. David, in the complaints he makes of his enemies, seems to refer to Christ. But our enemies do us real mischief only when they drive us from God and our duty. The true believer's trouble will be made useful; he will learn to wait for his God, and will not seek relief from the world or himself. The less we notice the unkindness and injuries that are done us, the more we consult the quiet…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-20The psalmist, unable to bear his suffering and close to collapse (compare Psalm 15:5), admits his sin (see Psalm 32:5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2019-20. Still, while humbled before God, he is the victim of deadly enemies, full of malice and treachery. enemies are lively--literally, "of life," who would take my life, that is, deadly.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 38:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 38
- 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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