Psalms 37:39 (ASV)

Passage

But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Nearby Context

Psalms 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a [happy] end to the man of peace.

Psalms 37:38 As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; The end of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalms 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Psalms 37:40 And Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them; He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken refuge in him. Psalm 38 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "salvation", "righteous", "jehovah", "stronghold", "time", and "trouble". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "salvation" and "righteous", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 38's "As for transgressors they shall be destroyed..." into verse 40's "And Jehovah helpeth them and rescueth them...", so "salvation" and "righteous" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "salvation" and "righteous" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.