For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous; so that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB For the scepter of the wicked will not rest upon the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to injustice.
- 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.
- NASB For the scepter of wickedness will not rest upon the land of the righteous, So that the righteous will not extend their hands to do wrong.
- NLT The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
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
Wicked rule will not permanently dominate the righteous, lest they be tempted to sin. It promises that oppression is limited so faith is not crushed.
Overview
The psalmist trusts that hostile, wicked power over God's people will not be allowed to remain, sparing the righteous from the temptation to abandon faith under prolonged pressure. God measures the trials of His people and sets bounds to evil. This hope is fulfilled in Christ, who breaks the dominion of sin and will finally end all unjust rule.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Isa 14:5–6Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,
- Ps 89:22No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.
- Prov 22:8He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
- 1 Cor 10:13No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
- Rev 2:10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Isa 27:8In measure, when you send them away, you contend with them. He has removed them with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
- 1 Sam 24:10Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.
- Isa 10:5Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!
- Ps 103:9He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.
- Ps 103:14For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
- Ps 55:20He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
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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 125:3 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.