Psalms 38:20 Meaning and Explanation
“They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who repay good with evil oppose the psalmist for pursuing righteousness.
The Context of Psalms 38:20
Persecution arising from the conflict between good and evil.
What Does Psalms 38:20 Mean?
The psalmist's adversaries are those who 'render evil for good'—who repay kindness with harm. This inversion of justice is their defining character. The psalmist's 'following the thing that good is' provokes enmity.
There is irony here: the psalmist's commitment to good incurs opposition from those who traffic in evil. The evil-doers hate the one pursuing righteousness, seeing him as a threat or a rebuke.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 38:20
What does Psalms 38:20 mean?
Those who repay good with evil oppose the psalmist for pursuing righteousness.
What is the context of Psalms 38:20?
Persecution arising from the conflict between good and evil.