There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
Parallel translations
- WEB There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.
- BSB There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.
- NKJV There they are in great fear, For God is with the generation of the righteous.
- NASB There they are in great dread, For God is with a righteous generation.
- NLT Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him.
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
The wicked are seized with sudden terror because God stands with the righteous. It matters because God's presence among his people is their security and the dread of their enemies.
Overview
Those who scorned God are overtaken by great fear, for Yahweh dwells in the generation of the righteous. The very God they denied proves to be present and powerful on behalf of his own. This anticipates the gospel assurance that God is for those who are his, so that no opposition can finally stand.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Ps 112:2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
- Ps 73:15If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
- Ps 24:6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
- Isa 43:1–2But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
- Ps 22:30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
- Matt 1:23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
- Esth 8:7Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
- Prov 28:1The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
- Prov 1:26–27I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
- Ps 46:5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
- Exod 15:16Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
- 1 Pet 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Ps 53:5There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
- Isa 8:10Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
- Isa 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Ps 46:7The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Ps 46:11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Isa 12:6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
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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 14:5 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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