Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.
Parallel translations
- WEB Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
- KJV Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
- BSB Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever.
- 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 34:14Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
- Prov 16:6By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
- 1 Jn 2:16–17For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s.
- 1 Th 5:15See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.
- Heb 13:16But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
- 2 Tim 2:19However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
- Titus 2:11–14For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
- Heb 13:21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Job 28:28To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”
- Isa 1:16–17Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil.
- Titus 3:8This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
- Ps 102:28The children of your servants will continue. Their offspring will be established before you.”
- Titus 3:14Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may 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.