For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that God's faithfulness ("he will not forsake his saints") is directly linked to His love for justice. This isn't just about a passive liking for fairness, but an active commitment to righteousness that ensures the ultimate security of His people.
For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is encouraging the faithful to remain steadfast and patient, even when observing the apparent prosperity of the wicked. This particular verse serves as a strong confirmation of the Lord's character and his commitment to justice, explaining why the righteous can trust in His timing and care. It follows directly after exhortations to do good and depart from evil, highlighting the divine favor that rests on those who live righteously, in contrast to the ultimate fate of the wicked and their descendants.
Does God truly care about fairness and what happens to the oppressed? This verse offers a profound answer.
The LORD Loves Justice
The phrase 'the LORD loves justice' isn't just a casual statement; it's a declaration of God's very nature.
Life can feel uncertain, with challenges coming from all sides. Who is truly safe, and why?
Never Forsaken, Preserved Forever
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The verse makes a powerful promise about God's people: 'he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved for ever.'
Understand the original words
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
The theological concept of God's rightness and impartial judgment. It refers to God's unwavering commitment to upholding what is right and fair, and His faithfulness to His covenant with His people.
chasid · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the faithful ones or the godly people who are in a covenant relationship with God. It carries the idea of those who receive God's covenantal loving-kindness and mercy.
rashaʿ · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those who are morally corrupt, rebellious, or opposed to God. In the context of wisdom literature, they are the opposite of the righteous, often characterized by their hostility toward God and His people.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
A covenantal name for the self-existent God of Israel, the I AM, who reveals Himself to His people. He is the God of grace, holiness, and steadfast love.
This passage emphasizes God's faithfulness and justice, mirroring Psalm 37:28's assertion that 'the LORD loves justice' and will not abandon His faithful ones.
Psalm 1:5-6These verses contrast the destiny of the wicked with the righteous, highlighting that while the wicked face judgment, the Lord knows and approves of the path of the righteous, echoing the psalm's theme of preservation versus being 'cut off'.
Matthew 5:5Jesus' beatitude, 'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,' directly parallels Psalm 37:29 (mentioned in the commentary), which speaks of the righteous inheriting the land, underscoring God's favor towards the humble and just.
1 Peter 1:24-25This passage quotes Isaiah 40:6-8, stating that 'all flesh is like grass,' which withers and falls, just as the wicked are 'cut off' in Psalm 37:28, while God's word (and by extension, His faithful people) endures forever.
Proverbs 2:21-22This proverb states that the upright will dwell in the land and the blameless will remain, while the wicked will be cut off from the land, directly mirroring the outcome described for the righteous and wicked in Psalm 37:28.
ellicottPsalms 37:28: "For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off."
(28) For the Lord. —In the Hebrew the stanza that should begin with the letter ayin is wanting, but may be restored by a very slight change, to agree with the Codex Alex., of the LXX., the Vulg. and Symmachus. “The unjust shall be punished.” Probably the transcriber was misled by the tsaddê of the next verse, since that letter and ayin were often…
calvinPsalms 37:27-29: "Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore."
- Depart from evil, and do good, and dwell for ever. 28. For Jehovah loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his meek ones: they shall be preserved for ever: and the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29. The righteous shall inherit the earth, and shall dwell for ever upon it.
27 Depart from evil, and do good. In this verse David argues, that, in order to realize the blessedness of which he has spoken, we must abstain fro…
The verse emphasizes that God's faithfulness ("he will not forsake his saints") is directly linked to His love for justice. This isn't just about a passive liking for fairness, but an active commitment to righteousness that ensures the ultimate security of His people.
The psalmist is encouraging the faithful to remain steadfast and patient, even when observing the apparent prosperity of the wicked. This particular verse serves as a strong confirmation of the Lord's character and his commitment to justice, explaining why the righteous can trust in His timing and care. It follows directly after exhortations to do good and depart from evil, highlighting the divine favor that rests on those who live righteously, in contrast to the ultimate fate of the wicked and their descendants.
The psalmist is encouraging the faithful to remain steadfast and patient, even when observing the apparent prosperity of the wicked. This particular verse serves as a strong confirmation of the Lord's character and his commitment to justice, explaining why the righteous can trust in His timing and care. It follows directly after exhortations to do good and depart from evil, highlighting the divine favor that rests on those who live righteously, in contrast to the ultimate fate of the wicked and their descendants.
"For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off." — The verse emphasizes that God's faithfulness ("he will not forsake his saints") is directly linked to His love for justice. This isn't just about a passive liking for fairness, but an active commitme…
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Last reviewed October 2026