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Psalm 145:20
The LORD preserves all those who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked.
18The LORD is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20The LORD preserves all those who love him, but he will destroy all the wicked.
21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Notice
The words “preserves” and “destroy” bring both reassurance and warning into a song of praise, where YHWH’s care and judgment belong together.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What hopes or questions arise from the promise that YHWH preserves those who love him?
Write on thisHow does the warning about destruction shape your reading of the praise in verse 21?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Exodus 20:6and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.Both passages name those who love God as recipients of his care, described as preservation in the psalm and loving kindness in Exodus.
John 10:27–29My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.Both describe a bond with God: the psalm names those who love the LORD, while Jesus describes sheep who hear and follow him.
Romans 8:28–30We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.Both passages speak of God’s care for those who love him, through preservation in the psalm and his work for good in Romans.
Psalm 121:7The LORD will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.Both psalms speak of the LORD’s keeping, with Psalm 121 naming protection from evil and the keeping of the soul.
Psalm 97:10You who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.Both address love for the LORD and his preservation of his people, while also naming the wicked.
Psalm 31:23Oh love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, and fully recompenses him who behaves arrogantly.Both link love for the LORD with his preservation of the faithful and his judgment against wrongdoing.
Proverbs 2:8that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.Both describe God’s preserving care for his people, with Proverbs speaking of the way of his saints.
Genesis 6:8But Noah found favor in the LORD’s eyes.The shared thread is the LORD’s favor toward people; Genesis names Noah, without stating the psalm’s link between love and preservation.
Deuteronomy 10:12Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to serve the LORD your God …Both name love for the LORD, with Deuteronomy placing that love among God’s requirements for Israel.
Psalm 1:6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.Both contrast the LORD’s care for his people with the destruction awaiting the wicked.
James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who …Both attach a promise to those who love God: preservation in the psalm and inheritance of the Kingdom in James.
Proverbs 2:22But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it.Both announce judgment against the wicked, with Proverbs describing their removal from the land.
Where this verse fits
Fear for the future. injustice and anger. praise and worship.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Within this song of praise, the warning remains severe: YHWH will destroy the wicked. His promise to preserve all who love him remains firm.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).