Psalms 125:4
in Psalms 125Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to the upright in heart.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Do good, O Jehovah, unto those that are good, And to them that are upright in their hearts.
KJV
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
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This verse in Psalms 125
Commentary
9 notes on this verseGod is good, but he is also just, and it is the nature of the just to reward in proportion to merit, as it is written: "Do good, O Lord, to those that are good and to the upright of heart. But such as turn aside to their own crooked ways, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity." He is merciful, but he is also a judge, for "the Lord loves mercy and judgment," says the psalmist. And he therefore also says, "Mercy and judgment I will sing to you, O Lord."
This site's exposition
Do good, O LORD
on Psalms 125:4-5
The prayer asks the LORD to do good to the upright. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown mark the word their in verse 5 as emphatic, the crooked ways coming out of their own hearts. Those who turn are banished with the evildoers, and the psalm's last words are peace upon Israel.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
And he therefore addeth, "Do well, O Lord, unto those that are good and true of heart" (ver. 4). They who are right in heart, of whom I was speaking a little before,-they who follow the will of God, not their own will,-reflect upon this. But they who wish to follow God, allow Him to go before, and themselves to follow; not themselves to go before, and Him to follow; and in all things they find Him good, whether chastening, or consoling, or exercising, or crowning, or cleansing, or enlightening; as the Apostle saith, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God."
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
With the upright God will show himself upright. He does not say, Do good, O Lord! to those that are perfect, that are sinless and spotless, but to those that are sincere and honest. God's promises should quicken our prayers.
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good,.... That are made so by the Spirit and grace of God; for none are naturally good, but evil; only such who are regenerated and made new creatures, who have a good work of grace begun in them; who have the good Spirit of God, and his good graces, and the good word of God in them, and are filled with all goodness; and which is known by the good fruits which they bear, or the good works done by them.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. Men to be good at all must be good at heart. Those who trust in the Lord are good; for faith is the root of righteousness, and the evidence of uprightness. Faith in God is a good and upright thing, and its influence makes the rest of the man good and upright.
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. Men to be good at all must be good at heart. Those who trust in the Lord are good; for faith is the root of righteousness, and the evidence of uprightness. Faith in God is a good and upright thing, and its influence makes the rest of the man good and upright. To such God will do good: the prayer of the text is but another form of promise, for that which the Lord prompts us to ask he virtually promises to give. Jehovah will take off evil from his people, and in the place thereof will enrich them with all manner of good. When the rod of the wicked is gone his own rod and staff shall comfort us. Meanwhile it is for us to pray that it may be well with all the upright who are now among men. God bless them, and do them good in every possible form. We wish well to those who do well. We are so plagued by the crooked that we would pour benedictions upon the upright.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good - Let the upright ever find thee his sure defense! Increase the goodness which thou hast already bestowed upon them; and let all who are upright in heart find thee to be their stay and their support!
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be good ... - To the good; to the pious. Let them be under the divine protection. Possibly this is not merely a prayer, but is expressive of the belief of the psalmist as to what would occur under the divine administration - that the favor of God would rest upon his people.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
For the rod of wickedness will not rest on the lot of the righteous For the Holy One, blessed be He, will not allow the rule of the wicked to rest on the righteous because the righteous are careful not to stretch out their hand in wrongdoing.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
and those who turn their crooked ways on the people to find wicked accusationsmay the Lord lead them away with the workers of iniquity.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
5 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֵיטִ֣יבָה | heitivah | do good ! | H3190 → | 117 times |
| יְ֭הוָה | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לַטּוֹבִ֑ים | latovim | to the good [people] | H2896 → | 538 times |
| וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗ים | velisharim | and to [people] upright | H3477 → | 119 times |
| בְּלִבּוֹתָֽם׃ | belibotam | in hearts their | H3826 → |
הֵיטִ֣יבָהdo good !
heitivahH3190 →117 times
יְ֭הוָהO Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לַטּוֹבִ֑יםto the good [people]
latovimH2896 →538 times
וְ֝לִֽישָׁרִ֗יםand to [people] upright
velisharimH3477 →119 times
בְּלִבּוֹתָֽם׃in hearts their
belibotamH3826 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:9–10
Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
- Proverbs 2:7
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
- Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
- Psalms 85:12
The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
- Psalms 34:9–10
Through
Psalms 119:68You are good, and You do what is good; teach me Your statutes.
it leads to
- Psalms 119:12
Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.
- Psalms 119:12
Through
Psalms 7:10My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
it leads to
- Genesis 15:1
After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
- Genesis 15:1
Through
Psalms 119:80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 26:16
The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these statutes and ordinances. You must be careful to follow them with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Deuteronomy 26:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Exposition on Psalm 125; Basil of Caesarea, THE LONG RULES, PREFACE; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 7; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.