King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Justice will once again become righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Berean Standard Bible:
Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
American Standard Version:
For judgment shall return unto righteousness; And all the upright in heart shall follow it.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But judgment{H4941} shall return{H7725}{H8799)} unto righteousness{H6664}: and all the upright{H3477} in heart{H3820} shall follow{H310} it.
Cross-References (KJV):
Micah 7:9
- I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, [and] I shall behold his righteousness.
Psalms 97:2
- Clouds and darkness [are] round about him: righteousness and judgment [are] the habitation of his throne.
Psalms 37:34
- ¶ Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].
Psalms 125:3
- For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
Psalms 125:5
- As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: [but] peace [shall be] upon Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:35
- To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Deuteronomy 32:36
- For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Psalms 94:15
Psalm 94:15, "But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it," is part of a communal lament psalm that wrestles with the problem of evil and the apparent triumph of the wicked over the righteous. The psalmist expresses frustration over the injustices witnessed, where the arrogant and the evildoers seem to prosper while oppressing the innocent. The historical context of this verse, like many psalms, is not precisely known, but it likely reflects a period when the Israelites were grappling with social injustice and the apparent failure of their theological expectations that the righteous would be rewarded and the wicked punished.
The theme of Psalm 94:15 is a confident assertion that, despite current appearances, justice will ultimately prevail. It speaks to the faith of the psalmist in God's sovereignty and righteousness, affirming that God will eventually restore justice and that those who are righteous in heart will be vindicated. The verse reassures the faithful that their moral integrity and devotion to God are not in vain; they will be followed by divine judgment that aligns with righteousness. It serves as an encouragement to maintain moral purity and trust in God's justice, even when it seems that wickedness is winning. This message resonates with the broader biblical theme of God as a just judge who will ultimately set things right, rewarding the faithful and punishing the wicked.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4941
There are 406 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּט
Transliteration: mishpâṭ
Pronunciation: mish-pawt'
Description: from שָׁפַט; properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style; [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong. - Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H6664
There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֶדֶק
Transliteration: tsedeq
Pronunciation: tseh'-dek
Description: from צָדַק; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity; [idiom] even, ([idiom] that which is altogether) just(-ice), (un-)right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness). - Strong's Number: H3477
There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשָׁר
Transliteration: yâshâr
Pronunciation: yaw-shawr'
Description: from יָשַׁר; straight (literally or figuratively); convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), [phrase] pleased well right(-eous), straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness). - Strong's Number: H3820
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֵב
Transliteration: lêb
Pronunciation: labe
Description: a form of לֵבָב; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything; [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. - Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.