The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's truly striking here is that "all wickedness" isn't just defeated, it's silenced. The text uses a powerful image: wickedness literally shuts its mouth, unable to offer a single word of protest or denial when God's justice and mercy are so undeniably displayed. This isn't just the wicked being punished; it's their arguments, their critiques of God, completely collapsing in the face of His evident faithfulness.
The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm has recounted God's deliverance of various people in distress, from wanderers in the wilderness to captives and the sick. The concluding verses celebrate God's power and faithfulness, assuring that His actions reveal His justice and loving-kindness, silencing any who would question His governance.
Ever felt frustrated when the world seems unfair, with the wicked prospering? This verse speaks directly to that feeling.
The 'upright' or righteous are those who walk with God, seeking to live according to His ways. When they witness God's powerful acts of deliverance and justice, as described throughout Psalm 107, they don't just observe – they rejoice.
This isn't a gloating joy, but a deep gladness that comes from seeing God's character validated. They rejoice in His mercy for those rescued from despair, His faithfulness to His promises, and His ultimate triumph over evil. It’s a celebration of His sovereignty and a confirmation that His ways are indeed just and good, even when they are hard to understand in the moment.
Imagine a world where injustice and arrogance have no voice. This verse paints that picture with striking finality.
The phrase 'all wickedness shuts its mouth' is incredibly powerful. It signifies the utter inability of evil to stand against God's definitive actions.
When God intervenes, whether through acts of mercy for the suffering or judgment upon the ungodly, the boasting and the complaints of the wicked are rendered completely useless. Their arguments, their justifications for injustice, and their denials of God's authority are all silenced. This isn't just a temporary pause; it's a testament to God's ultimate authority and the undeniable evidence of His righteous rule over all creation.
Understand the original words
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yashar · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Refers to those who are morally straight, righteous, or blameless before God. In the wisdom literature and Psalms, the upright are characterized by their adherence to God's law and their pursuit of His ways.
awlah · Hebrew Noun
General term for unrighteousness, injustice, or moral perversion. It represents thoughts or actions that are contrary to God's character and His revealed will for humanity.
This passage directly shares the first phrase, 'The upright see it and are glad,' highlighting the joy of the righteous when witnessing God's actions and justice.
Job 5:16This verse mirrors the second part of Psalms 107:42, stating 'so the poor and the needy find no good, but in destruction he is taken.' It emphasizes how wickedness is ultimately silenced or consumed by divine action.
Psalm 73:8-9This psalm describes the wicked speaking arrogantly and against God, a stark contrast to the silence of iniquity mentioned in Psalms 107:42, underscoring the ultimate vindication of God's justice.
Revelation 18:20This New Testament passage echoes the sentiment of rejoicing and the silencing of opposition when God's judgment is enacted, specifically in the context of the fall of a wicked system.
pulpitPsalms 107:42: "The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth."
Verse 42. - The righteous shall see it, and rejoice. Experience will justify God's ways to man. "The righteous" - his people - will see that the general course of God's providence is such as described (vers. 33 - 41), and will "rejoice" that it is so. And all iniquity shall stop her mouth. The gain sayers, unable to impugn the righteousness of the Divine proceedings, shall have no resource but to s…
bensonPsalms 107:42: "The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth."
Psalm 107:42 . The righteous shall see it — Or rather, shall see these things, as it is expressed in the next verse. They shall diligently observe these wonderful works of God’s mercy and justice; and rejoice — In the glorification of his attributes, and the manifestation of his dominion over the children of men. They will rejoice, not only in the mercies of God vouchsafed or offered to them and oth…
What's truly striking here is that "all wickedness" isn't just defeated, it's silenced. The text uses a powerful image: wickedness literally shuts its mouth, unable to offer a single word of protest or denial when God's justice and mercy are so undeniably displayed. This isn't just the wicked being punished; it's their arguments, their critiques of God, completely collapsing in the face of His evident faithfulness.
This psalm has recounted God's deliverance of various people in distress, from wanderers in the wilderness to captives and the sick. The concluding verses celebrate God's power and faithfulness, assuring that His actions reveal His justice and loving-kindness, silencing any who would question His governance.
This psalm has recounted God's deliverance of various people in distress, from wanderers in the wilderness to captives and the sick. The concluding verses celebrate God's power and faithfulness, assuring that His actions reveal His justice and loving-kindness, silencing any who would question His governance.
"The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth." — What's truly striking here is that "all wickedness" isn't just defeated, it's silenced. The text uses a powerful image: wickedness literally shuts its mouth, unable to offer a single word of protes…
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Last reviewed October 2026