King James Version
Psalms 37:21
21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Psalms 37:21 in other versions
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.
Context of Psalms 37:21
19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
Read all of Psalms 37Psalms 37:21 word by word
לֹוֶ֣ה רָ֭שָׁע וְלֹ֣א יְשַׁלֵּ֑ם וְ֝צַדִּ֗יק חוֹנֵ֥ן וְנוֹתֵֽן׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Psalms 37:21
- Deuteronomy 28:12The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
- 2 Kings 4:1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons 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 112:5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
- Deuteronomy 15:9Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked 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 unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
- Job 31:16If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- Isaiah 32:8But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
- Isaiah 58:7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
- Luke 6:30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
- Acts 11:29Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:
- Acts 20:35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
- Hebrews 6:10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
- Hebrews 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: 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
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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries