Psalms 37:17
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
Main message
Psalm 37:17: The arms or power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous; divine support does not guarantee immunity from injury, oppression, disability, or loss.
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 arms or power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous; divine support does not guarantee immunity from injury, oppression, disability, or loss.
Further teachings
Violence has limits before God
The arms or power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous; divine support does not guarantee immunity from injury, oppression, disability, or loss.
Cross References: Psalm 37:17 — Psalm 37:12–20.
Applications in daily life
- 1
Psalm 37:17
The arms or power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous; divine support does not guarantee immunity from injury, oppression, disability, or loss.
Divine upholding does not guarantee physical invulnerability, uninterrupted success, or freedom from disability and loss.
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 37:16
Read the previous verse to preserve the movement.
- Psalm 37:18
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
Divine upholding does not guarantee physical invulnerability, uninterrupted success, or freedom from disability and loss.
The arms or power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous; divine support does not guarantee immunity from injury, oppression, disability, or loss.
How to Apply Psalms 37:17
Meditate on Psalms 37:17 by reading it aloud each morning this week. Ask yourself how its message from Scripture applies to a current challenge you are facing. Write one specific step you will take today in response to its truth — and revisit that commitment at the end of the week.
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:
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