Psalms 37:14
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Main message
Psalm 37:14: The wicked draw sword and bend bow against the poor, needy, and upright; the verse exposes violence and does not authorize believers to answer violence with private weapons or vigilantism.
Meaning in context
Psalm 37:12–20 · Violence has limits before God — Verses 12–20 depict plots, weapons, and apparent power of the wicked, yet insist that injustice is temporary and cannot secure the future.
The wicked draw sword and bend bow against the poor, needy, and upright; the verse exposes violence and does not authorize believers to answer violence with private weapons or vigilantism.
Further teachings
Violence has limits before God
The wicked draw sword and bend bow against the poor, needy, and upright; the verse exposes violence and does not authorize believers to answer violence with private weapons or vigilantism.
Cross References: Psalm 37:14 — Psalm 37:12–20.
Applications in daily life
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Psalm 37:14
The wicked draw sword and bend bow against the poor, needy, and upright; the verse exposes violence and does not authorize believers to answer violence with private weapons or vigilantism.
Weapon imagery is descriptive of violent threat and does not authorize vigilantism, private warfare, forced conversion, or revenge.
Related Bible passages and resources
- Psalm 37 (full chapter)
Psalm 37 is an alphabetic wisdom psalm that teaches how to live when wrongdoers appear to flourish. It repeatedly turns the reader from envy, anger, and retaliation toward trust, doing good, patient waiting, generosity, and confidence that God sees the difference between violent injustice and faithful life. Its promises about land, provision, guidance, and deliverance belong to wisdom and covenant poetry and must not be turned into mechanical guarantees of wealth, property, health, or immediate safety. The ending places salvation and refuge in the LORD rather than in private vengeance or superiority over enemies.
- Psalm 37:13
Read the previous verse to preserve the movement.
- Psalm 37:15
Continue with the next verse to preserve the movement.
- Study the Book of Psalms
Keep this verse within Psalm 37’s wisdom contrast between temporary wrongdoing and a life of trust, justice, generosity, patience, and refuge in the LORD.
Common misreadings
Weapon imagery is descriptive of violent threat and does not authorize vigilantism, private warfare, forced conversion, or revenge.
The wicked draw sword and bend bow against the poor, needy, and upright; the verse exposes violence and does not authorize believers to answer violence with private weapons or vigilantism.
How to Apply Psalms 37:14
Use Psalms 37:14 as a daily declaration. Speak it over your circumstances, inserting your name where relevant. Let its promise from Psalms anchor your perspective as you navigate decisions related to from Scripture, and share it with one person who might need it today.
Sources & Method
Biblical text
Commentary anchored in the public-domain Psalm 37 text used by the site.
- Author:
- The Lord Will Editorial Team
- Reviewed by:
- Ugo Candido
- Last updated:
- Reviewed on: