Bible Strands
Psalms 145:20
The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David, in a psalm of personal praise (145:1), declares Yahweh's character, moving from God's care for those who fear Him (v.19) to a universal doxology (v.21).
The words — שׁוֹמֵר (sho.Mer) is a participle, not a finite verb: Yahweh is not merely "will protect" but is continuously in the act of guarding, an ongoing posture rather than a single event.
The thread — The condition of "loving" Yahweh echoes Exodus 20:6, where lovingkindness is shown to those who love and keep His commandments, and Romans 8:28, where all things work together for the good of those who love God.
Why it lands — The verse offers no middle ground: love or destruction, and it asks the reader to determine which category they occupy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Cross-references
- Exodus 20:6 but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
- John 10:27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Psalms 97:10 Hate evil, O you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
- Psalms 31:23 Love the LORD, all His saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but fully repays the arrogant.
- Psalms 1:6 For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
- Psalms 9:5 You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever.
- Psalms 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations who forget God.
- James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
- Psalms 37:28 For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.