Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
- KJV Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
- NKJV Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
- NASB Light is sown like seed for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
- NLT Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.
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
Light and gladness are sown for the righteous and upright. God promises a sure harvest of joy for those who walk with Him.
Overview
The agricultural image of sowing suggests that present obedience and faithfulness will yield future blessing, even if delayed. 'Light' signifies salvation, favor, and well-being, while 'gladness' speaks of lasting joy. This hope is secured in Christ, the Light of the world, in whom the upright find ultimate gladness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Jas 5:7–11Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- John 12:46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
- Prov 4:18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
- Isa 60:1–2Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
- Job 22:28Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
- Ps 112:4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright—for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
- Ps 126:5–6Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
- Mic 7:9Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness.
- Rev 21:23And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Ps 18:28For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.
- Gal 6:8The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
- Esth 8:16For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor.
- Rev 22:5There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
- Isa 62:1For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, until her righteousness shines like a bright light, her salvation like a blazing torch.
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 97:11 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.