Psalms 37:38

But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — David contrasts the secure future of the upright in verse 37 with the coming judgment on the rebellious, immediately preparing to affirm the Lord as the righteous' stronghold in verse 39. The passage addresses Israel's concern over the temporary prosperity of the wicked by declaring their definitive end.

The words — The Hebrew נִשְׁמְד֣וּ (nish.me.Du) means "they will be destroyed," intensified by יַחְדָּ֑ו (yach.Dav), "altogether," to indicate total eradication. The phrase אַחֲרִית רְשָׁעִים ('a.cha.Rit re.sha.'Im) literally renders "the future of the wicked," which the text declares will be נִכְרָֽתָה (nikh.Ra.tah), "cut off."

The thread — This trajectory of the wicked's complete ruin recurs in Proverbs 14:32, where they are thrown down by their own sin. It aligns with Psalm 1:4, which compares them to wind-driven chaff, and Psalm 52:5, which describes God bringing everlasting ruin upon the proud.

Why it lands — The text states plainly that rebellion yields no lasting inheritance, directly contrasting the transgressors' fate with the upright's secure posterity. It requires the reader to reject the way of the wicked and trust the Lord as the only refuge in trouble.

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

וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִיםU./fo.she.'imand/ transgressors נִשְׁמְד֣וּnish.me.Duthey will be destroyed יַחְדָּ֑וyach.Davaltogether אַחֲרִ֖ית'a.cha.Rit[the] future of רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]נִכְרָֽתָה׃nikh.Ra.tahit will be cut off

King James Version

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

Cross-references

Proverbs 14:32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
Psalms 52:5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
Psalms 1:4 Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
Psalms 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations who forget God.
Matthew 13:49 So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous
2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Psalms 73:17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
Matthew 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Matthew 25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”