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They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
Psalms 37:19 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
  • BSB In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.
  • NKJV They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
  • NASB They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, And in the days of famine they will have plenty.
  • NLT They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

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

In evil times and even famine the righteous will not be put to shame but will be satisfied. God provides for His own in hardship.

Overview

David promises that God's people will be sustained through disaster and scarcity, 'satisfied' when others go hungry. Their security rests not on circumstances but on God's faithful provision. This assurance fuels trust in every trial and points to the Lord who feeds His people, supremely the Bread of life who satisfies the soul forever (John 6:35).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Prov 10:3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
  • Ps 33:19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
  • Job 5:20–22In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
  • Isa 33:16He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
  • Amos 5:13Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.
  • Eph 5:16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
  • Eccl 9:12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
  • Mic 2:3Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

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 37:19YouTube · 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 37:19 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.