Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Parallel translations
- WEB Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
- BSB Light shines on the righteous, gladness on 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 therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
- John 12:46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
- Prov 4:18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
- Isa 60:1–2Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
- Job 22:28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
- Ps 112:4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
- Ps 126:5–6They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
- Mic 7:9I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
- Rev 21:23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
- Ps 18:28For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
- Gal 6:8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
- Esth 8:16The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
- Rev 22:5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- Isa 62:1For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
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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.