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Psalms 37:17

WEBKJVBSBESVNKJVNASBNLT
For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.
Psalms 37:17 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but Yahweh upholds the righteous.
  • KJV For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
  • NKJV For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But the Lord upholds the righteous.
  • NASB For the arms of the wicked will be broken, But the Lord sustains the righteous.
  • NLT For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.

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 strength ('arms') of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. God's support outlasts human power.

Overview

David contrasts the collapse of the wicked's power with God's sustaining of the righteous. Human strength arrayed against God's people will fail, while the Lord Himself holds them up. This personal upholding is the believer's confidence; the same God upholds His own to the end through Christ, who keeps His sheep so none can snatch them from His hand (John 10:28).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 12

  • Isa 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
  • Ps 63:8My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
  • Ps 145:14The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
  • Isa 42:1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
  • Ps 37:24Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand.
  • Ps 119:116–117Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
  • Ps 51:12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
  • Jude 1:24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
  • Ps 10:15Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call him to account for his wickedness until none is left to be found.
  • Ps 41:12In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever.
  • Job 38:15Light is withheld from the wicked, and their upraised arm is broken.
  • Ezek 30:21–25“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. See, it has not been bound up for healing, or splinted for strength to hold the sword.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)
BLESSINGPOWER

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 37:17YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 37:17 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.

For the armsזְרוֹעַof the wickedרָשָׁעshall be brokenשָׁבַרbut the LORDיְהֹוָהupholdethסָמַךְthe righteousצַדִּיק
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