Psalms 37:14

12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
KJV
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
WEB
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to kill those who are upright on the path.
ASV
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way.
DARBY
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the afflicted and needy, to slay those that are upright in [the] way:
BLB
The wicked have drawn out the sword and have bent their bows, to cast down the poor and needy, [and] to slay those upright in the path.
ÅB
De ugudelige drar sverdet og spenner buen
for å felle den elendige og fattige
og drepe dem som vandrer oppriktig.
OTB
De ugudelige spenner buen
For å felle de fattige og trengende,
For å drepe dem som vandrer rettskaffent.
B1930
De ugudelige drar sverdet og spenner sin bue for å felle den elendige og fattige og slå dem ihjel som vandrer opriktig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 29:27

    An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 11:2

    For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

    Read in context
  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 29:10

    The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 64:2–6

    Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

    Read in context
  • Acts 7:52

    Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

    Read in context
  • Psalms 35:10

    All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 24:17

    And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

    Read in context