Read
Psalm 37:23
A man’s steps are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.
21The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, but the righteous give generously.
22For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
23A man’s steps are established by the LORD. He delights in his way.
24Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for the LORD holds him up with his hand.
25I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.
Notice
Steps established by YHWH offer a ground for trust when you feel responsible for securing the whole course of your life.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your plans when you picture YHWH establishing your steps?
Write on thisHow does the next verse’s mention of stumbling shape your understanding of established steps?
Write on thisConnect
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
Proverbs 16:9A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.Both passages place a person’s steps under the LORD’s direction; Proverbs also names the planning that takes place in the human heart.
Psalm 119:133Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.Psalm 119 asks God to establish footsteps in his word, sharing Psalm 37’s language of steps made firm by God.
Proverbs 4:26Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.Both speak of established ways, with Proverbs urging care for the path and Psalm 37 naming the LORD as the one establishing steps.
1 Samuel 2:9He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness; for no man will prevail by strength.Both describe God’s care through the language of feet or steps, locating security in him rather than human strength.
Psalm 40:2He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.Both describe God giving firm footing, with Psalm 40 recounting rescue from a pit onto a rock.
Psalm 121:8The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more.Both describe the LORD’s care for a person’s movements, whether as established steps or protected going out and coming in.
Jeremiah 10:23LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.Both locate the direction of human steps beyond the walker’s own power, with Psalm 37 naming the LORD as their support.
Psalm 85:13Righteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps.Both speak of a way and steps, though Psalm 85 describes righteousness preparing the way before him.
Job 23:11–12My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away.Both use steps and a way to describe life in relation to God; Job speaks of keeping to God’s way.
Proverbs 20:24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?Both say a person’s steps depend on the LORD; Proverbs adds the limits of human understanding about that way.
Jeremiah 9:24But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness on …Both speak of the LORD’s delight, with Jeremiah naming loving kindness, justice, and righteousness as things that please him.
Proverbs 11:1A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.Both connect the LORD’s delight with human conduct; Proverbs makes that connection concrete through honest weights.
Where this verse fits
A big decision. fear for the future. an ordinary day.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The next line speaks of stumbling even where YHWH establishes a person’s steps. A hard path does not itself mean abandonment; YHWH holds up the one who stumbles.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 37:23. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 37 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
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).