Psalm 145:17 kjv
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
Psalm 145:17 nkjv
The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.
Psalm 145:17 niv
The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
Psalm 145:17 esv
The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
Psalm 145:17 nlt
The LORD is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
Psalm 145 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deu 32:4 | He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice... | God's perfection in ways & justice. |
| Ps 11:7 | For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness... | Direct statement of God's righteous nature. |
| Ps 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne... | Justice as core of God's dominion. |
| Isa 45:21 | ...There is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior... | Uniqueness of God's combined justice & salvation. |
| Jer 9:24 | ...I am the LORD, who exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness... | God's attributes in His deeds. |
| Zep 3:5 | The LORD in her midst is righteous; He will do no unrighteousness... | God's absolute uprightness. |
| Rom 3:25-26 | ...to demonstrate His righteousness... so that He might be just and the justifier... | God's righteousness displayed in salvation. |
| 2 Tim 4:8 | ...the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day... | God as the ultimate arbiter of justice. |
| Rev 16:7 | Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments. | Heavenly declaration of God's just judgments. |
| Exod 34:6-7 | The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth... | Foundation of God's loving character. |
| Ps 86:5 | For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all... | God's readiness to show great mercy. |
| Ps 103:8 | The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. | Compassion and unfailing love of God. |
| Ps 100:5 | For the LORD is good; His mercy endures forever... | God's everlasting goodness and mercy. |
| Joel 2:13 | ...for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness... | Call to repentance based on God's nature. |
| Rom 2:4 | Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering... | God's patience and inherent goodness. |
| Titus 3:4-5 | But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared... | God's salvation flowing from His kindness. |
| Eph 2:7 | ...that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness... | God's boundless grace and kindness through Christ. |
| Ps 33:4 | For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth. | Truth and rightness pervade all God's actions. |
| Ps 147:5 | Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. | Implies perfect execution of His ways/works. |
| 1 Chr 16:34 | Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. | Encouragement to praise God for His unchanging mercy. |
| Hab 1:13 | Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look favorably on wickedness. | God's inherent moral purity. |
| Jas 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above... | All goodness ultimately stems from God's character. |
| 1 John 4:8 | God is love. | Direct declaration of God's loving nature. |
| Psa 7:11 | God is a just judge, and God is indignant with the wicked every day. | God's consistent application of justice. |
Psalm 145 verses
Psalm 145 17 Meaning
Psalm 145:17 declares God's intrinsic and pervasive character, affirming that the LORD is perfectly righteous in all the principles, paths, and administrations by which He governs, and is unfailingly kind and benevolent in every act He performs. His nature is consistent; His justice and love are always in perfect harmony, foundational to His every interaction and creation.
Psalm 145 17 Context
Psalm 145 is an alphabetic acrostic psalm, a majestic hymn of praise to the LORD. It celebrates His greatness, majesty, mighty acts, and abounding goodness. The psalmist extols God for His creation, His provision for all living things, His steadfast love (hesed), and His readiness to hear and save those who call upon Him. Verse 17 is a pivotal declaration within this praise, asserting God's perfect moral character as the bedrock of all His actions described throughout the psalm. It encapsulates the trustworthiness and reliability of YHWH, confirming that His universal care and sovereign rule are rooted in inherent righteousness and boundless lovingkindness. Historically, this psalm serves as a foundational declaration of Israel's God being wholly distinct from capricious, immoral pagan deities.
Psalm 145 17 Word analysis
- The LORD: Original Hebrew YHWH (יְהוָה, Yĕhowah), the sacred, unutterable covenant name of God revealed to Israel. This emphasizes that it is not any god, but the unique, personal God of the covenant who possesses these perfect attributes. This name underscores His eternality, self-existence, and faithfulness to His promises.
- is righteous: Original Hebrew tzaddiq (צַדִּיק). Means just, morally upright, vindicated, and ethically pure. This is not just a descriptive term but reflects God's very essence. He is the ultimate standard of justice and truth. His actions are always consistent with His perfect nature and His divine law.
- in all His ways: Original Hebrew bəḵāl-dərakhāw (בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו). Darkim (ways) refers to God's course of action, His moral character, His administration, and the principles by which He operates. "All" signifies universality, completeness, and consistency; there is no deviation or imperfection in His moral conduct or His divine plans. This speaks to His character as revealed in His principles and methods.
- and kind: Original Hebrew wəḥāsîḏ (וְחָסִיד). Derived from chesed, which is often translated as steadfast love, lovingkindness, or mercy. Chasid, when applied to God, signifies His gracious, merciful, and benevolent nature that stems from His covenant loyalty. It implies active goodness and faithful compassion.
- in all His works: Original Hebrew ūvəḵāl-maʿăśāyw (וּבְכָל־מַעֲשָׂיו). Ma'asim (works) refers to God's actions, deeds, accomplishments, and everything He brings into being, including creation, providence, and redemption. "All" again emphasizes the universality and unwavering nature of His kindness in every single one of His actions. This speaks to His character as revealed in His tangible deeds.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His works": This is a powerful parallel structure affirming two fundamental and inseparable aspects of God's character. His righteousness (justice and moral perfection) guides His ways (principles and government), and His kindness (steadfast love and mercy) is manifest in all His works (actions and deeds). This pairing ensures that God's justice is never harsh without compassion, and His mercy never undermines His moral integrity. They are two sides of the same perfect character.
- "in all His ways" and "in all His works": The repetition of "in all" stresses the absolute and complete consistency of God's character. There are no exceptions, no moments where He deviates from His righteous path or fails to express His kindness. This underscores His trustworthiness and dependability.
Psalm 145 17 Bonus section
The use of "all" (כָּל, kol) two times is significant for emphasis, serving as an absolute qualifier, implying totality and universal applicability. This declaration in Psalm 145:17 contrasts sharply with the polytheistic views prevalent in the ancient Near East, where gods were often portrayed as temperamental, ethically ambiguous, or subject to human whims. By stating that YHWH is always righteous and always kind in all His actions, the psalmist posits a radical monotheistic truth: God is utterly consistent in His moral perfection and benevolent love. This attribute provides a firm foundation for worship, obedience, and confident reliance, for His character is unwavering and utterly dependable. His unchanging character makes Him perfectly trustworthy for His people and for the entirety of creation.
Psalm 145 17 Commentary
Psalm 145:17 stands as a robust theological statement affirming the impeccable character of God. It highlights the perfect integrity and benevolent nature of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. "Righteous" means He is just, morally flawless, and faithful to His own holy standards and His covenant promises. This applies to His "ways" – His principles, His laws, His governance, and the very paths He chooses for Himself and for His creation. Concurrently, "kind" refers to His benevolent, merciful, and steadfast love, active in "all His works." This means every action God performs, from the grand cosmic acts of creation to the intimate details of His providential care for individuals, flows from this abundant kindness and is perfectly executed with unwavering love and mercy.
This verse assures believers that God's justice is never divorced from His love, nor is His love capricious or without moral foundation. His righteous administration ensures order and ultimate fairness, while His pervasive kindness ensures grace, provision, and ultimate redemption for His people. It fosters profound trust in God, knowing that whatever He permits, plans, or performs is always congruent with His perfect goodness and unwavering justice. We can rest in the certainty that all of God’s judgments and blessings are reflections of His pure and good nature.
- Example: When facing difficulties, remembering God is righteous in all His ways means His discipline is always just, not arbitrary.
- Example: When experiencing blessings, remembering God is kind in all His works affirms these are expressions of His loving character, not random fortune.