The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Parallel translations
- WEB The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
- BSB The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
- ESV The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
- NKJV The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
- NASB The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant.
- NLT The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 LORD's intimate friendship is with those who fear him, and he shows them his covenant. God draws near in close fellowship to the reverent.
Overview
This rich verse promises that God shares his secret counsel and covenant intimacy with those who fear him. The relationship is not distant but marked by trusted friendship and revealed understanding. Such closeness finds its fullest expression in Christ, who calls his people friends and makes known to them the will of the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- John 15:15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
- John 14:21–23He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
- John 7:17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
- Eph 1:9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
- 1 Cor 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Eph 1:18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
- Rev 2:17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
- Jer 31:31–34Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
- Deut 4:13And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
- John 17:6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
- Col 3:3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
- Matt 13:11–12He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- John 14:17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
- Gen 18:17–19And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
- Gen 17:13He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
- Prov 3:32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
- Rom 11:26–27And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
- Jer 13:18Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
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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 25:14 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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