Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
Parallel translations
- WEB Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
- KJV Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
- NKJV Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.
- NASB ¶Turn from evil and do good, So that you will dwell forever.
- NLT Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.
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
David exhorts to turn from evil and do good, with the promise of secure dwelling forever. Right living leads to lasting blessing.
Overview
The summons 'Depart from evil, and do good' captures the psalm's practical aim, and the promised reward is to 'live securely forever.' Turning from sin and pursuing good belong together in the life of faith. This is no salvation by works but the fruit of those God has claimed; in Christ believers are made new to forsake evil and walk in good works (Ephesians 2:10).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Ps 34:14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
- Prov 16:6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
- 1 Jn 2:16–17For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
- 1 Th 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Heb 13:16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- 2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
- Titus 2:11–14For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.
- Heb 13:21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Job 28:28And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Isa 1:16–17Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
- Titus 3:8This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
- Ps 102:28The children of Your servants will dwell securely, and their descendants will be established before You.”
- Titus 3:14And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 37:27 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.