Psalms 37:21
The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Main message
Psalm 37:21: The wicked borrows and does not repay, while the righteous is gracious and gives; the moral issue is exploitative refusal, not shame toward debtors, poverty, insolvency, or people needing restructuring.
Meaning in context
Psalm 37:21–26 · Generosity and sustained steps — Verses 21–26 contrast exploitative borrowing with generosity and portray God establishing and sustaining the steps of those who live faithfully.
The wicked borrows and does not repay, while the righteous is gracious and gives; the moral issue is exploitative refusal, not shame toward debtors, poverty, insolvency, or people needing restructuring.
Further teachings
Generosity and sustained steps
The wicked borrows and does not repay, while the righteous is gracious and gives; the moral issue is exploitative refusal, not shame toward debtors, poverty, insolvency, or people needing restructuring.
Cross References: Psalm 37:21 — Psalm 37:21–26.
Applications in daily life
- 1
Psalm 37:21
The wicked borrows and does not repay, while the righteous is gracious and gives; the moral issue is exploitative refusal, not shame toward debtors, poverty, insolvency, or people needing restructuring.
Do not stigmatize people in debt; distinguish exploitative refusal to repay from poverty, insolvency, illness, predatory lending, or restructuring.
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 37:20
Read the previous verse to preserve the movement.
- Psalm 37:22
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
Do not stigmatize people in debt; distinguish exploitative refusal to repay from poverty, insolvency, illness, predatory lending, or restructuring.
The wicked borrows and does not repay, while the righteous is gracious and gives; the moral issue is exploitative refusal, not shame toward debtors, poverty, insolvency, or people needing restructuring.
Related Verses
- Proverbs 22:7
“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
- Deuteronomy 15:1
“At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.”
- Romans 13:8
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
- Proverbs 6:1
“My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,”
- Matthew 6:24
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Related Topics
How to Apply Psalms 37:21
Meditate on Psalms 37:21 by reading it aloud each morning this week. Ask yourself how its message on the theme of Bankruptcy in the Bible 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:
- Reviewed on: