Psalms 37:21 (WEB)

Passage

The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

Nearby Context

Psalms 37:19 They shall not be disappointed in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Psalms 37:20 But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish— vanish like smoke.

Psalms 37:21 The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.

Psalms 37:22 For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.

Psalms 37:23 A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wicked", "borrow", "back", "righteous", "give", and "generously". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wicked" and "borrow", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "But the wicked shall perish The enemies..." into verse 22's "For such as are blessed by him...", so "wicked" and "borrow" 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 "wicked" and "borrow" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.