Psalm 119:137 kjv
Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
Psalm 119:137 nkjv
Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments.
Psalm 119:137 niv
You are righteous, LORD, and your laws are right.
Psalm 119:137 esv
Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules.
Psalm 119:137 nlt
O LORD, you are righteous,
and your regulations are fair.
Psalm 119 137 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:4 | "He is the Rock, His work is perfect... A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He." | God's inherent perfection, justice, and uprightness. |
| 2 Sam 22:31 | "This God—His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." | God's perfect way and trustworthy word. |
| Ps 7:9 | "Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous, for You who test the minds and hearts are a righteous God." | God as a righteous judge. |
| Ps 19:9 | "The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether." | God's judgments are comprehensively true and righteous. |
| Ps 33:4-5 | "For the word of the LORD is upright... He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD." | God's word and nature are upright, loving justice. |
| Ps 89:14 | "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You." | Justice and righteousness are fundamental to God's reign. |
| Ps 96:13 | "...He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth." | God's future judgment is righteous and truthful. |
| Ps 97:2 | "Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne." | Reinforces God's throne built on justice and righteousness. |
| Ps 111:7 | "The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy." | God's actions and commands are faithful and just. |
| Ps 119:75 | "I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." | Personal affirmation of God's righteous judgments even in affliction. |
| Ps 145:17 | "The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His works." | God's righteousness permeates all His actions. |
| Isa 45:21 | "...There is no other god besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides Me." | God is uniquely a righteous God and Savior. |
| Jer 9:24 | "...that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth..." | Understanding God's character of love, justice, and righteousness. |
| Dan 9:14 | "...Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all His works that He has done, and we have not obeyed His voice." | Acknowledging God's righteousness even in punitive actions due to disobedience. |
| Rom 2:5 | "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed." | God's coming judgment is righteous. |
| Rom 3:25-26 | "...to show His righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. It was to show His righteousness at the present time..." | God's righteousness displayed in redemption through Christ. |
| Heb 12:23 | "...to God, the judge of all..." | God is the ultimate judge, inherently implying righteous judgment. |
| 1 Pet 1:17 | "...If you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds..." | God judges impartially, reflecting His righteousness. |
| Rev 15:3 | "...Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!" | The saints worship God, acknowledging His just and true ways. |
| Rev 16:7 | "...“Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are Your judgments!”" | Affirmation of God's true and just judgments, particularly concerning divine wrath. |
| Rev 19:2 | "for His judgments are true and just; for He has judged the great prostitute..." | God's judgments are true and just in enacting divine retribution. |
Psalm 119 verses
Psalm 119 137 Meaning
Psalm 119:137 proclaims the inherent character of God: He is absolutely righteous and His every judgment, ordinance, or decree is entirely upright and just. This verse serves as a declaration of faith in the moral perfection and unwavering justice of the Divine Lawgiver, affirming that all His pronouncements align with His pure nature.
Psalm 119 137 Context
Psalm 119 is an extended acrostic poem, each section of eight verses beginning with a consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 137 falls within the "Tsade" (צ) section (verses 137-144). The overall psalm is a meditation and praise on God's law, using various synonyms for His divine instruction (such as 'testimonies,' 'precepts,' 'statutes,' 'commandments,' 'judgments'). This verse directly contributes to the psalm's central theme by affirming the foundational premise that the very source of these laws, God Himself, is righteous, and therefore His laws are also inherently just and true. Historically, the verse counters the ancient pagan notions of arbitrary or cruel deities, presenting YHWH as perfectly good and upright in all His decrees.
Psalm 119 137 Word analysis
- Righteous (צַדִּיק - Tzaddiq): This word signifies more than mere correctness; it describes God's inherent moral perfection and His conformity to His own divine standard. It implies a straight, upright character, entirely just and pure in nature and action. It speaks to God's essential being as one who always does what is right.
- are You, O Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the personal, covenant name of God, often rendered "the LORD" in English. Its use here personalizes the declaration. It means that the God with whom Israel has a relationship, the One who reveals Himself, is intrinsically righteous. It highlights that God's justice is not an abstract concept but a deeply personal attribute of the Divine Redeemer and Lawgiver.
- and upright (וְיָשָׁר - veYashar): The conjunction "and" links this quality to the previous statement. "Upright" reinforces "righteous," meaning straight, level, and correct in every aspect. While "righteous" speaks to inherent character, "upright" often pertains to behavior and action, emphasizing the flawless nature of God's judgments.
- are Your judgments (מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ - mishpateyka): Mishpatim refers to God's ordinances, legal decisions, decrees, or acts of justice. It encompasses not only the written law but also God's administration of justice in the world. This phrase declares that every one of God's laws, verdicts, and dealings are perfectly just and morally straight. They are not arbitrary, unfair, or inconsistent but perfectly reflect His righteous character.
Words-group analysis
- Righteous are You, O Lord: This phrase acts as a foundational doxology, an adoration and affirmation of God's very being. It establishes divine character as the premise for the subsequent declaration. It means that the standard of all righteousness originates in God alone, and He perfectly embodies it.
- and upright are Your judgments: This second part logically flows from the first. Because God is Tzaddiq, His Mishpatim must naturally be Yashar. It highlights the organic link between God's perfect character and the flawless nature of His decrees. This is crucial for trusting God's ways even when they seem incomprehensible to humans.
Psalm 119 137 Bonus section
The emphasis on God's righteousness and upright judgments in this verse, situated within a psalm extolling His Word, implicitly critiques any human-derived standard of justice that deviates from divine truth. In ancient societies, rulers and their laws were often arbitrary, self-serving, or corrupt. This verse offers a stark contrast: the God of Israel's law is fundamentally and eternally different, reflecting His perfect character. A profound implication is that true wisdom and peace are found in aligning one's own life and understanding of justice with the absolute standard found in God's upright judgments, rather than relying on flawed human philosophies or shifting cultural norms.
Psalm 119 137 Commentary
Psalm 119:137 is a core declaration of biblical theology: God is not merely powerful or wise, but supremely righteous and just. This verse is not just a statement about God, but an act of worship to Him. It recognizes that God’s actions (His 'judgments' or decrees) are a perfect reflection of His inherent, unchanging moral nature. This means His laws are not arbitrary rules, but emanations of His pure and perfect being. This divine rectitude forms the secure foundation for human trust and obedience. If God's judgments were fallible, human adherence would be subject to doubt and caprice. But because they are "upright" – consistent with His flawless "righteous" character – humanity can rely on them as absolute truth. For instance, when a believer faces a difficult command, the conviction from this verse provides assurance that even the challenging demands of God are inherently just and ultimately for good.