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Psalms 37:24

KJV

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Read it in context “The steps of a good man are ordered by…”
Start reading at Psalms 37:23 (Psalms 37:23 to Psalms 37:24). An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.

The opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.

  1. 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
  2. 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Who

What

When

Where

How

Cited: Psalms 37:23, Psalms 37:24, Luke 24:44, Acts 2:25, Acts 2:30, Acts 2:31

Who wrote it, and how we know

David and others, including Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe superscriptions name their writers: David most often, and also Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, and Moses. The New Testament quotes psalms as David's words. Psalm 3:1Psalm 90:1Acts 2:25Acts 4:25
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition preserves the superscriptions as ancient.
What is debatedSome scholars regard certain superscriptions as later additions. The collection was assembled over centuries.

Related passages

Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).

Macro-Structure

See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.

Macro-Structure of Psalms 37

Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs with multiple attributed writers and many unspecified occasions. Read each psalm as a poetic unit and distinguish a speaker's lament, petition, vow, and praise. The five-book arrangement does not make all psalms one continuous speech. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement. A quoted heading uses the opening KJV words of that stanza; the speaker and the psalm as a whole still govern its meaning.

Psalms 1:1 Psalms 41:13 Psalms 150:6

Delight Yourself in the LORD
Psalms 37:1–2

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt…”
Psalms 37:3–4

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in…”
Psalms 37:5–6

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:…”
Psalms 37:7–7

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself…”
Psalms 37:8–9

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“For yet a little while, and the wicked shall…”
Psalms 37:10–11

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon…”
Psalms 37:12–13

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have…”
Psalms 37:14–15

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“A little that a righteous man hath is better…”
Psalms 37:16–17

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and…”
Psalms 37:18–19

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of…”
Psalms 37:20–20

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the…”
Psalms 37:21–22

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“The steps of a good man are ordered by…”
Psalms 37:23–24 You are here · 37:24

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“I have been young, and now am old; yet…”
Psalms 37:25–26

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for…”
Psalms 37:27–29

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his…”
Psalms 37:30–31

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay…”
Psalms 37:32–33

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and…”
Psalms 37:34–34

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“I have seen the wicked in great power, and…”
Psalms 37:35–36

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for…”
Psalms 37:37–38

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThe opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation
“But the salvation of the righteous is of the…”
Psalms 37:39–40

FocusPrayer, the righteous, and the king

Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The opening collection brings individual and communal prayer into the setting introduced by Psalms 1 and 2, ending with a doxology.
interpretation

Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.

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