Psalm 37:38
New International Version
But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.

New Living Translation
But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.

English Standard Version
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

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

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

New King James Version
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

New American Standard Bible
But wrongdoers will altogether be destroyed; The future of the wicked will be eliminated.

NASB 1995
But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.

NASB 1977
But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.

Legacy Standard Bible
But transgressors will be altogether destroyed; The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.

Amplified Bible
As for transgressors, they will be completely destroyed; The future of the wicked will be cut off.

Christian Standard Bible
But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But transgressors will all be eliminated; the future of the wicked will be destroyed.

American Standard Version
As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; The end of the wicked shall be cut off.

Contemporary English Version
But not a trace will be left of the wicked or their families.

English Revised Version
As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together: the latter end of the wicked shall be cut off.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But rebels will be completely destroyed. The future of wicked people will be cut off.

Good News Translation
but sinners are completely destroyed, and their descendants are wiped out.

International Standard Version
Sinners will be destroyed together; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

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

NET Bible
Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.

New Heart English Bible
As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

World English Bible
As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And transgressors were destroyed together, "" The latter end of the wicked was cut off.

Young's Literal Translation
And transgressors were destroyed together, The latter end of the wicked was cut off.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they transgressing were destroyed together: the latter state of the unjust was cut of.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the unjust shall be destroyed together : the remnants of the wicked shall perish.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the unjust will be destroyed together: the allotments of the impious will pass away.

New American Bible
Sinners will be destroyed together; the future of the wicked will be cut off.

New Revised Standard Version
But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But sinners shall be destroyed together; yea, the end of the wicked shall be destruction.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Sinners will come to an end together, and the end of the wicked is for destruction.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But the transgressors shall be utterly destroyed together: the remnants of the ungodly shall be utterly destroyed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do Not Envy Those who Do Wrong
37Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace. 38But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. 39The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.…

Cross References
Proverbs 24:20
For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Job 18:5-21
Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow. / The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out. / His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up. ...

Proverbs 2:22
but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.

Psalm 1:4-6
Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. / Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. / For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Isaiah 1:28
But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.

Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

Matthew 13:40-42
As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. / The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. / And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2 Peter 2:12
These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.

Psalm 73:17-20
until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end. / Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin. / How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors! ...

Proverbs 10:27-30
The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short. / The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish. / The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil. ...

Isaiah 57:20-21
But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. / “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Matthew 7:13
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

Luke 13:3
No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

2 Thessalonians 1:9
They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”


Treasury of Scripture

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

Psalm 1:4-6
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away…

Psalm 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

Psalm 52:5
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.

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Altogether Cut Destroyed Destruction End Future Latter Posterity Sinners Together Transgressors Wicked Wrongdoers
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Altogether Cut Destroyed Destruction End Future Latter Posterity Sinners Together Transgressors Wicked Wrongdoers
Psalm 37
1. David persuades to patience and confidence in God,
12. by the different estate of the godly and the wicked














But the transgressors will all be destroyed;
This phrase emphasizes the ultimate fate of those who live in rebellion against God's laws. In biblical context, "transgressors" refers to those who deliberately violate God's commandments. The destruction mentioned is not merely physical but also spiritual, indicating eternal separation from God. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where sin leads to death (Romans 6:23). Historically, Israel witnessed the downfall of nations and individuals who opposed God's will, such as the Canaanites and the Babylonian exile. This serves as a warning and a call to repentance, echoing the prophetic messages found throughout the Old Testament.

the future of the wicked will be cut off.
The "future" here refers to the hope or legacy that the wicked might expect. In a cultural context, lineage and posterity were highly valued in ancient times, and to have one's future "cut off" was a severe judgment. This phrase connects with Proverbs 24:20, which similarly states that the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out, symbolizing the end of their influence and prosperity. Theologically, this reflects the justice of God, who ensures that evil does not ultimately prevail. It also points to the eschatological hope found in the New Testament, where the final judgment will see the complete eradication of wickedness (Revelation 20:11-15).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Transgressors
Individuals who violate God's laws and commandments. In the context of Psalm 37, they are contrasted with the righteous who trust in the Lord.

2. The Wicked
Those who live in opposition to God's will, often characterized by their pursuit of evil and injustice.

3. Destruction
The ultimate fate of the wicked as decreed by God. This is a recurring theme in the Psalms, emphasizing divine justice.

4. The Righteous
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they are the implied contrast to the wicked, often highlighted throughout Psalm 37 as those who will inherit the land and enjoy peace.

5. The Future
Refers to the destiny or end result of one's life path. For the wicked, this future is bleak and marked by destruction.
Teaching Points
Divine Justice
God's justice is certain and will ultimately prevail. The wicked may seem to prosper temporarily, but their end is destruction.

The Importance of Righteous Living
Believers are called to live righteously, trusting in God's promises and avoiding the path of the wicked.

Eternal Perspective
Christians should maintain an eternal perspective, understanding that earthly success is fleeting, and true reward comes from God.

Trust in God's Timing
While the wicked may seem to thrive, believers must trust in God's timing for justice and remain steadfast in faith.

Encouragement for the Righteous
The fate of the wicked serves as a reminder and encouragement for the righteous to continue in their faithfulness to God.Verse 38. - But the transgressors shall be destroyed together (comp. vers. 2, 9, 10, 15, 20, and 34). The end of the wicked shall be cut off. If achargth be taken to mean "posterity" in the preceding verse, it must be given the same signification here.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the transgressors
וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים (ū·p̄ō·šə·‘îm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6586: To break away, trespass, apostatize, quarrel

will all
יַחְדָּ֑ו (yaḥ·dāw)
Adverb
Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly

be destroyed;
נִשְׁמְד֣וּ (niš·mə·ḏū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8045: To be exterminated or destroyed

the future
אַחֲרִ֖ית (’a·ḥă·rîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 319: The last, end, the future, posterity

of the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֣ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

will be cut off.
נִכְרָֽתָה׃ (niḵ·rā·ṯāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant


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OT Poetry: Psalm 37:38 As for transgressors they shall be destroyed (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 37:37
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