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Psalms 37:20

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

But evil people will be destroyed, and those who oppose the Lord will be like the fat from sacrificed lambs, they will burn up and disappear completely like smoke.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse is saying that those who live wickedly and oppose God will ultimately be completely destroyed and vanish.

📚 Historical Context

Psalm 37 was written by King David during a time in ancient Israel when the righteous often faced hardship and saw the wicked prospering, which raised questions about God's justice. This verse uses poetic imagery, like the fat of lambs burning away in a sacrifice, to illustrate the inevitable destruction of evildoers, drawing from cultural practices of animal offerings to emphasize that the wicked's fate is as fleeting as smoke. It fits into the broader biblical wisdom literature that contrasts the temporary success of the ungodly with the enduring blessings of the faithful.

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