As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Parallel translations
- WEB As for God, his way is perfect. Yahweh’s word is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
- KJV As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
- NKJV As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
- NASB “As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is refined; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
- NLT “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God's way is perfect and his word is proven, and he shields all who take refuge in him. The Lord is utterly reliable to those who trust him.
Overview
David affirms the flawless integrity of God's character and the tested truthfulness of his word. To everyone who seeks shelter in him, God is a sure defense. This is a cornerstone of faith: God's promises never fail, and refuge in him, supremely in Christ, is perfectly secure.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Deut 32:4He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
- Prov 30:5Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
- Ps 18:30As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
- Ps 12:6The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.
- Matt 5:48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
- Ps 119:140Your promise is completely pure; therefore Your servant loves it.
- 2 Sam 22:3My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence.
- Dan 4:37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
- Ps 35:2Take up Your shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
- Ps 91:4He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.
- Ps 84:9Take notice of our shield, O God, and look with favor on the face of Your anointed.
- Rev 15:3and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!
- Ps 2:7I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 22:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.