God’s Word Translation
Psalms 97:11
11Light dawns for righteous people and joy for those whose motives are decent.
Psalms 97:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
- New International Version (NIV)Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
Context of Psalms 97:11
9You, O Lord, the Most High, are above the whole earth. You are highest. You are above all the gods. 10Let those who love the Lord hate evil. The one who guards the lives of his godly ones will rescue them from the power of wicked people. Light dawns for righteous people and joy for those whose motives are decent. 12Find joy in the Lord, you righteous people. Give thanks to him as you remember how holy he is.
Read all of Psalms 97Psalms 97:11 word by word
א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב שִׂמְחָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 97:11
- Psalms 18:28O Lord, you light my lamp. My God turns my darkness into light.
- Psalms 112:4Light will shine in the dark for a decent person. He is merciful, compassionate, and fair.
- Esther 8:16So the Jews were cheerful, happy, joyful, and successful.
- Job 22:28When you promise to do something, you will succeed, and light will shine on your path.
- Proverbs 4:18But the path of righteous people is like the light of dawn that becomes brighter and brighter until it reaches midday.
- Isaiah 60:1Arise! Shine! Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned.
- Isaiah 62:1For Zion’s sake I will not remain silent. For Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until its righteousness shines like the dawn and its salvation burns brightly like a torch.
- Micah 7:9I have sinned against the Lord. So I will endure his fury until he takes up my cause and wins my case. He will bring me into the light, and I will see his victory.
- John 12:46I am the light that has come into the world so that everyone who believes in me will not live in the dark.
- Revelation 21:23The city doesn’t need any sun or moon to give it light because the glory of God gave it light. The lamb was its lamp.
- Revelation 22:5There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. They will rule as kings forever and ever.
- Psalms 126:5Those who cry while they plant will joyfully sing while they harvest.
- Galatians 6:8If you plant in ⌞the soil of⌟ your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in ⌞the soil of⌟ your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life.
- James 5:7Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. See how farmers wait for their precious crops to grow. They wait patiently for fall and spring rains.
Commentaries on Psalms 97:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Light is sown for the righteous - The Divine light in the soul of man is a seed which takes root, and springs up and increases thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold. Gladness is also a seed: it is sown, and, if carefully improved and cultivated, will also multiply itself into thousands. Every grace of God is a seed which he intends should produce a thousand fold in the hearts of genuine believers. We do not so much require more grace from God, as the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Light is sown for the righteous - That is, There is light for the righteous; or, they shall be brought into light, though they may be for a time in darkness. The word rendered “sown” - זרע zâra‛ - is from a verb which properly denotes to scatter, to disperse - as seed is scattered or dispersed when sown in a field. It is hence used with reference to moral subjects, as to sow righteousness, Proverbs 11:18; to sow iniquity, Proverbs 22:8; to sow mischief…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 The faithful servants of God may well rejoice and be glad, because he is glorified; and whatever tends to his honour, is his people's pleasure. Care is taken for their safety. But something more is meant than their lives. The Lord will preserve the souls of his saints from sin, from apostacy, and despair, under their greatest trials. He will deliver them out of the hands of the wicked one, and preserve them safe to his heavenly kingdom. And…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Godly people who live with integrity (see Proverbs 2:7, 21; 3:32; 11:6, 11; 14:2) have hearts that are right before the Lord. They maintain a relationship with the Lord and live rightly with others (Psalms 94:15; 125:4). The wicked plan to destroy the godly (Psalm 11:2), but the Lord rescues them (11:1; 36:10). Then the sorrows of the godly turn into joy and praise (Psalms 32:11; 64:10; 111:1; 119:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1210-12. Let gratitude for the blessings of providence and grace incite saints (Psa 4:3) to holy living. Spiritual blessings are in store, represented by light (Psa 27:1) and gladness.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 97:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 97
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries