Psalms 37:21 (DRB)

Passage

They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.

Nearby Context

Psalms 37:19 For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin.

Psalms 37:20 But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

Psalms 37:21 They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.

Psalms 37:22 For sake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me.

Psalms 37:23 Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "for good", "render", "evil", "detracted", "followed", and "goodness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "for good" and "render", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "But my enemies live and are stronger..." into verse 22's "For sake me not O Lord my...", so "for good" and "render" 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 "for good" and "render" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.