New International Version
Psalms 125:3
3The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.
Psalms 125:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
Context of Psalms 125:3
1Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 2As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil. 4Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. 5But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be on Israel.
Read all of Psalms 125Psalms 125:3 word by word
כִּ֤י לֹ֪א יָנ֡וּחַ שֵׁ֤בֶט הָרֶ֗שַׁע עַל֮ גּוֹרַ֪ל הַֽצַּדִּ֫יקִ֥ים לְמַ֡עַן לֹא־יִשְׁלְח֖וּ הַצַּדִּיקִ֨ים בְּעַוְלָ֬תָה יְדֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For the rodשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribe: staffH7626
- of the wickedרֶ֫שַׁעresha‛ · wickednessH7562
- shall not restנוּחַnûach · to restH5117
- upon the lotגּוֹרָלgôrâl gôrâl · allottedH1486
- of the righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- lestמַ֫עַןma‛an · becauseH4616
- put forthשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: reachH7971
- their handsיָדyâd · handH3027
- unto iniquityעַוְלָה‛evel ‛âvel ‛avlâh ‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · injusticeH5766
Cross-references for Psalms 125:3
- Psalms 103:9He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
- Proverbs 22:8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
- Isaiah 10:5“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
- Isaiah 14:5The Lord has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,
- Isaiah 27:8By warfare and exile you contend with her— with his fierce blast he drives her out, as on a day the east wind blows.
- 1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
- Revelation 2:10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Commentaries on Psalms 125:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For the rod of the worked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous - Rod, here. may be taken for persecution, or for rule; and then it may be thus interpreted: "The wicked shall not be permitted to persecute always, nor to have a permanent rule." In our liturgic version this clause is thus rendered: "The rod of the ungodly cometh not into the lot of the righteous." "This," said one of our forefathers, "is neither truth nor scripture. First, it is not…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For the rod of the wicked - Margin, as in Hebrew, “wickedness.” The word “rod” - the staff, the scepter, the instrument of inflicting punishment - here means dominion, power, that condition in which the wicked are commonly found, as one of prosperity or power. God will not deal with the righteous as the wicked are often dealt with: that is, God will not give his people prosperity as he does them. The righteous will be afflicted, and will be placed in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The godly may be tempted to abandon God’s ways because of pressure from others or from the surrounding culture.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Though God may leave them for a time under the "rod," or power (Psa 2:9), and oppression of the wicked for a time, as a chastisement, He will not suffer them to be tempted so as to fall into sin (1Co 10:13). The wicked shall only prove a correcting rod to them, not a destroying sword; even this rod shall not remain ("rest") on them, lest they be tempted to despair and apostasy (Psa 73:13, 14). God may even try His people to the uttermost: when nothing…Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 125:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 125
- 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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