Psalm 37:15

Translations

Modern

But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Traditional

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

Literal

Their sword will come into their own heart, and their bows will be broken.

Latin

Gladius eorum intret in corda ipsorum, et arcus eorum confringatur.

Original

Hebrew

English

But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.

Notes

Psalms 37:14–15

The wicked prepare weapons, but those weapons will turn against them (compare Psalm 7:12–13).

Psalms 37:12–17

The wicked seek to destroy the Lord’s order, but he defeats them.

Psalms 37:1–40

This psalm addresses the issues raised in Psalm 36:

How should the godly react to evil?
When will the Lord bring justice?
Why does he allow the wicked to harm his creation?

Psalm 37 provides clear answers that reduce the tensions of life (Psalm 37:1–9, 34) and promise that the meek will have a future (Psalm 37:10–11, 39–40).

The contrast between the godly and the wicked highlights the uselessness of foolishness (Psalm 37:12–24, 27–33). The psalmist's personal insights add a human element (Psalm 37:25–26, 35–38). He encourages viewing the land's inheritance with a long-term perspective: The earth belongs to the Lord, who will give it to those he blesses—the humble and godly who trust, hope, and follow him (see Psalm 37:9, 11, 22, 29, 34; see also Isaiah 57:13; Matthew 5:5).

Theme notes and profiles

David Inheriting the Land Wisdom Psalms

Related verses

Psalm 7:14–15
Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
Psalm 35:8
May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.
Psalm 46:9
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.
2 Samuel 17:23
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
Hosea 2:18
On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and battle in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.
Jeremiah 51:56
For a destroyer is coming against her—against Babylon. Her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken, for the LORD is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.
1 Samuel 31:4
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
Hosea 1:5
And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”
Matthew 27:4–5
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”
Isaiah 37:38
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer put him to the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon reigned in his place.
Esther 7:9–10
Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king.
1 Samuel 2:4
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength.

Psalm 37:15

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