It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
- KJV A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
- NKJV A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.
- NASB It goes well for a person who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment.
- NLT Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
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
It goes well with the person who is generous, lends freely, and conducts his affairs justly. Gracious generosity and integrity bring blessing.
Overview
The righteous person is marked by open-handed lending and fairness, reflecting God's own grace. Such a life is established and vindicated 'in judgment.' The verse commends generosity and justice as fruits of true faith, virtues that echo Christ's call to give freely and act with integrity (Luke 6:35).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Ps 37:21The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.
- Eph 5:15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
- Prov 2:20So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.
- Phil 1:9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
- Ps 37:25–26I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.
- Deut 15:7–10If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.
- John 6:12And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”
- Prov 24:30–34I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
- Rom 12:11Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- Luke 23:50Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man,
- Prov 22:26–27Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts.
- Rom 5:7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
- Prov 17:18A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
- Luke 6:35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
- Prov 12:2The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.
- Prov 24:27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
- Prov 18:9Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
- Col 4:5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
- Acts 11:24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
- Job 31:16–20If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
- Prov 27:23–27Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 112:5 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
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