Verse

Psalm 31:23

ESV Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
NIV Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.
NASB Love the Lord, all His godly ones! The Lord watches over the faithful But fully repays the one who acts arrogantly.
CSB Love the Lord, all his faithful ones. The Lord protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant.
NLT Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
KJV O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
NKJV Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person.

What does Psalm 31:23 mean?

After explaining his approach to trust in God (Psalm 31:19–22), David turns his attention to the believers in Israel. He exhorts them to love the Lord. This exhortation echoes the first and greatest commandment the Lord gave the people of Israel. He announced: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus said, "This is the great and first commandment" (Matthew 22:38). David assures the faithful that God preserves them. In other words, He protects and keeps them. He gives them grace to endure every affliction (2 Corinthians 12:9), and He escorts them safely to heaven (John 10:28).

On the other hand, God serves justice to proud evildoers, in abundance. A famous illustration of this is Jesus' story about a beggar named Lazarus, who was transported to Paradise, as opposed to an unrighteous rich man, who died and suffered in hell (Luke 16:19–23). Unbelievers may prosper in this life, but they will experience the same judgment as anyone else after they die (Hebrews 9:27).
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