English Standard Version
Psalms 37:21
21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous 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;
- New King James Version (NKJV)The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.
Context of Psalms 37:21
19they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. 20But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; 22for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. 23The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
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 to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
- 2 Kings 4:1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves."
- Nehemiah 5:1Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers.
- Proverbs 22:7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
- Psalms 112:5It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.
- Deuteronomy 15:9Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin.
- Job 31:16"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- Isaiah 32:8But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.
- Isaiah 58:7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
- Luke 6:30Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.
- Acts 11:29So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
- Acts 20:35In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
- 2 Corinthians 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
- Hebrews 6:10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
- Hebrews 13:16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are 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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Commentaries