Psalm 37:33 kjv
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Psalm 37:33 nkjv
The LORD will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.
Psalm 37:33 niv
but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
Psalm 37:33 esv
The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
Psalm 37:33 nlt
But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
Psalm 37 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deu 31:6 | "Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." | God's enduring presence and commitment to not abandon His people. |
| Josh 1:5 | "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you." | Divine promise of presence and steadfast support. |
| Psa 9:9 | "The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." | God provides refuge from adversity and malicious power. |
| Psa 27:1 | "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" | Confidence in God's protective power against all fear and threats. |
| Psa 34:17 | "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." | God responds to cries of distress, providing deliverance. |
| Psa 91:1-4 | "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High... will be safe." | Assurance of God's refuge and protection from evil and danger. |
| Prov 2:7-8 | "He stores up sound wisdom for the upright… guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints." | God safeguards the righteous and guides their ways. |
| Psa 1:5-6 | "The wicked will not stand in the judgment... the Lord knows the way of the righteous." | The ultimate fate: the wicked are condemned, while the righteous are known. |
| Psa 7:9 | "Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end… for you, O righteous God, test the hearts and minds." | God as the righteous judge who tests and acts on behalf of the upright. |
| Psa 43:1 | "Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people." | A prayer for divine vindication and deliverance from the unjust. |
| Psa 50:6 | "The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge!" | God's absolute role as the ultimate judge over all. |
| Isa 54:17 | "No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment." | God guarantees that attacks and false accusations against His people will fail. |
| Mal 3:18 | "Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him." | The clarity of distinction that God will ultimately reveal through judgment. |
| Rom 8:1 | "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." | For believers, ultimate freedom from condemnation through Christ. |
| Rom 8:33-34 | "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?" | God's justification nullifies all accusations against His chosen ones. |
| Heb 13:5 | "I will never leave you nor forsake you." | Divine promise of unfailing presence and support reiterated. |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape." | God's faithfulness in trials, ensuring a way of escape and preventing complete surrender. |
| 2 Th 1:6-8 | "since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you… when the Lord Jesus is revealed." | God will justly bring retribution upon those who oppress His righteous ones. |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | "then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment." | God possesses the ability to deliver the righteous from testing while preserving the wicked for future judgment. |
| Acts 2:24 | "God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it." | Example of Christ's ultimate vindication by God after suffering. |
| 1 Tim 3:16 | "He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels..." | Christ's own vindication as a testament to God's ultimate justice. |
| Rev 20:11-15 | "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne… and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done." | Final divine judgment where all are assessed, and ultimate destinies revealed. |
Psalm 37 verses
Psalm 37 33 Meaning
Psalm 37:33 affirms God's unwavering protection and vindication of the righteous. It means that the Sovereign Lord, YHWH, will neither surrender His devoted one to the destructive grip and schemes of the wicked nor permit them to be declared guilty or condemned when they face legal or ethical judgment. This verse assures the righteous of divine faithfulness, preserving them from the ultimate triumph of evil and securing their justice.
Psalm 37 33 Context
Psalm 37 is a wisdom psalm, presented as an acrostic poem (though imperfect), offering counsel to the godly who are perplexed by the prosperity of the wicked and the apparent suffering of the righteous. David advises trusting in the Lord and waiting patiently for His justice, rather than fretting or envying wrongdoers. The psalm contrasts the transient triumph of the wicked with the enduring heritage and eventual vindication of the upright.
Verse 33 fits within a section (vv. 32-34) that describes the direct threat posed by the wicked (v. 32: "The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death") but then immediately pivots to God's divine intervention. It reassures the faithful that despite the malice and plots of their adversaries, the Lord's protective hand will prevail. Historically, this might reflect experiences of injustice, false accusations, or persecution faced by faithful individuals within the Israelite community, emphasizing the need to rely solely on God's just sovereignty.
Psalm 37 33 Word analysis
- The Lord (YHWH): This refers to the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness, self-existence, and personal relationship with His people. It highlights that the assurance comes from the supreme, sovereign, and unchanging God who is bound by His character and promises.
- will not abandon (Hebrew: יַעַזְבֶ֬נּוּ, ya'azvenu): Derived from עָזַב ('azav), meaning "to forsake," "to leave behind," or "to relinquish." The use of the negative here indicates a strong, definitive divine resolve. God actively chooses not to let go, not to desert. This is not passive permission, but an active denial of the wicked's control.
- him: Refers to the "righteous" (צַדִּיק, tzaddiq), mentioned in the preceding verse (v. 32) and throughout Psalm 37. It specifies the recipient of God's protection – the one who lives justly and walks with God.
- to his power (Hebrew: בְיָדֹה, beyadoh): Literally "in his hand." "His" refers to the wicked mentioned in v. 32. This is an idiomatic expression denoting control, authority, influence, or the ability to inflict harm. It means God will not allow the righteous to fall into the grip, control, or destructive designs of the wicked.
- or let him be condemned (Hebrew: יַרְשִׁיעֶנּוּ, yarshi'ennu): Derived from רָשַׁע (rasha'), meaning "to be wicked," or in the Hiphil stem, "to declare wicked," "to condemn," "to find guilty." This is a legal term. God will actively intervene so that the righteous are not legally or ethically declared guilty by unjust processes or verdicts.
- when he is judged (Hebrew: בְּהִשָׁפְטֹו, behishafto): Derived from שָׁפַט (shaphat), "to judge," "to govern." The form used (hishafto) is reflexive/passive, meaning "when he himself is being judged" or "when judgment falls on him." This refers to any occasion where the righteous person faces a verdict—whether in human courts, public opinion, or even in the divine court—indicating a moment of accountability and testing.
Words-group analysis:
- "The Lord will not abandon him to his power": This phrase emphasizes God's sovereign protection. Even when the wicked actively seek to ensnare or destroy the righteous, the covenant God (YHWH) will exert His divine will to prevent them from seizing ultimate control or causing irreparable harm. It speaks to divine preservation against external malevolence.
- "or let him be condemned when he is judged": This part highlights divine vindication. When the righteous person stands accused or faces trial (literally or figuratively), God will not allow a verdict of guilt or condemnation to stand. Instead, He ensures justice and clarifies their innocence or right standing. This addresses the inner peace and reputation of the righteous, assuring that their true character will be acknowledged and upheld by God.
Psalm 37 33 Bonus section
The broader context of Psalm 37 repeatedly encourages "waiting patiently" on the Lord and trusting in His timing and ultimate judgment. Verse 33 reinforces this call by providing the divine rationale: believers can wait patiently precisely because the Lord will act. This verse underscores that God's justice is not passive but is characterized by an active refusal to allow the wicked's designs to ultimately triumph over His chosen ones. It also implies that while the righteous might experience hardship, trials, or even persecution, these do not equate to being abandoned or condemned in God's sight. The verse is a powerful antidote to despondency, reminding believers that their ultimate security and vindication rest squarely in the hands of the omnipotent and righteous Judge.
Psalm 37 33 Commentary
Psalm 37:33 stands as a robust declaration of God's justice and faithfulness amidst perceived worldly injustices. It counters the temptation to doubt God's active involvement when the wicked seem to prosper and the righteous suffer or face wrongful accusations. The verse teaches that YHWH, the ever-present and covenant-keeping God, maintains ultimate sovereignty over human affairs. He actively intervenes to protect His faithful ones, not allowing them to fall entirely into the malicious control of adversaries, nor permitting them to be unjustly condemned when their conduct is brought into question. This promise encompasses both physical protection from the power of the wicked and moral vindication in the court of judgment. It calls for the believer's patience, trust, and continued upright living, knowing that divine justice, though sometimes delayed from a human perspective, is never denied. The true verdict belongs to the Lord, and His verdict for the righteous is acquittal and preservation.
Examples:
- Like Daniel, who was thrown into the lion's den by the wicked's power but was preserved by God (Dan 6).
- Like Joseph, falsely accused and condemned to prison, yet eventually vindicated and elevated by divine orchestration (Gen 39-41).
- Like the early Christians who faced persecution and false charges, yet continued to be empowered by God for witness and eventual divine victory (Acts 4:18-21; 5:27-29).