Psalm 37:25-26
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The psalmist isn't claiming no righteous person ever experiences hardship, but rather that he's never witnessed a life of genuine faith ending in utter destitution for them or their children. This highlights a profound trust that God's favor consistently provides, not necessarily abundance, but enough to prevent the ultimate disgrace of begging.
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is reflecting on a lifetime of observation, declaring that he's never seen the faithful abandoned by God or their children left to beg. This personal testimony comes after verses promising that the wicked will be cut off while the righteous will inherit the land and flourish, reinforcing the idea that God's favor is upon those who live justly. He concludes by stating that the righteous will experience God's continued favor and their descendants will also be blessed.
The psalmist doesn't just state a belief; he stakes his entire life experience on it. What does this longevity of observation tell us about the nature of God's faithfulness?
Psalms 37:25 opens with a powerful declaration of long-term experience: "I have been young, and now am old." This isn't a casual observation but a testimony built over a lifetime.
A Witness to God's Character
This statement grounds the psalm's teachings in reality. The psalmist has seen the ebb and flow of life, the rise and fall of fortunes, and the challenges faced by those who follow God. His conclusion, drawn from decades of watching, is profound:
This isn't a guarantee against any hardship, but a testament to a consistent, overarching pattern of God's care for the faithful and their descendants.
The verse touches on more than just survival; it points to a life of fruitfulness and blessing that extends beyond the individual.
The psalmist’s observation extends beyond the immediate needs of the righteous to include their "seed" – their children and descendants. This suggests a principle of generous provision that impacts generations.
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More Than Just Sustenance
Seeing the righteous and their children not begging for bread implies a life that is not only provided for but also capable of generosity.
This principle isn't about a never-ending accumulation of wealth, but about God ensuring that His faithful ones and their families are sustained, often enabled to be a blessing to others.
Understand the original words
azab · Hebrew Verb
The state of being abandoned, deserted, or left alone by God or others; implies being without divine protection or provision.
This passage speaks to the potential suffering of the children of the righteous, but Job's friend Eliphaz points out that even in their distress, they are not left entirely without recourse, echoing the sentiment that the righteous are not ultimately forsaken.
Proverbs 20:7This proverb directly links a righteous life with a positive legacy for one's children, stating that their children will rise up to call them blessed, reinforcing the idea that the righteous leave behind a favorable inheritance.
Luke 16:25While this passage about the rich man and Lazarus seems to contrast with Psalm 37:25 by showing a righteous person in dire straits, Jesus's words highlight that 'good things' can be received in this life, implying that present suffering doesn't negate past righteousness or God's ultimate care.
2 Corinthians 4:9Paul uses language similar to the Psalms when describing the life of a believer, affirming that they are 'persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed,' which supports the idea that even in hardship, the righteous are divinely sustained.
calvinPsalms 37:23-26: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way."
- The footsteps of a man are directed by Jehovah, and he will delight [or, take pleasure] in his way. 24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand. 25. I have been young, I am also become old; and yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26. He is daily merciful, and lendeth, and his seed is for blessing.
23 The foo…
poolePsalms 37:25: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
This assertion seems to be contradicted by many experiences; nor can it be denied, that both good men and their children have sometimes been reduced to great want. Quest. How then is this true? Answ. 1. Some render the last clause thus, nor (did I ever see) his seed, ( to wit, forsaken, as was now said,) though begging bread. So the sense is, I have seen him brought to begg…
The psalmist isn't claiming no righteous person ever experiences hardship, but rather that he's never witnessed a life of genuine faith ending in utter destitution for them or their children. This highlights a profound trust that God's favor consistently provides, not necessarily abundance, but enough to prevent the ultimate disgrace of begging.
The psalmist is reflecting on a lifetime of observation, declaring that he's never seen the faithful abandoned by God or their children left to beg. This personal testimony comes after verses promising that the wicked will be cut off while the righteous will inherit the land and flourish, reinforcing the idea that God's favor is upon those who live justly. He concludes by stating that the righteous will experience God's continued favor and their descendants will also be blessed.
The psalmist is reflecting on a lifetime of observation, declaring that he's never seen the faithful abandoned by God or their children left to beg. This personal testimony comes after verses promising that the wicked will be cut off while the righteous will inherit the land and flourish, reinforcing the idea that God's favor is upon those who live justly. He concludes by stating that the righteous will experience God's continued favor and their descendants will also be blessed.
"I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing." — The psalmist isn't claiming no righteous person ever experiences hardship, but rather that he's never witnessed a life of genuine faith ending in utter destitution for them or their children. This…
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Last reviewed October 2026
