Psalms 37:23–24
Though the righteous falls, YHWH holds his hand
Study it word by word23By YHWH the steps of a man are made firm, and in his way he delights.
24When he falls, he will not be hurled down, for YHWH sustains his hand.
In its context
21The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows favor and gives.
22For those blessed by him will possess the land, and those cursed by him will be cut off.
…
25Young I was, and also I have grown old, and I have not seen a righteous man abandoned or his offspring seeking bread.
26All the day he shows favor and lends, and his offspring is for a blessing.
Its words in the original
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- מִצְעֲדֵיmitsade· step
Step: each movement of the foot in walking; figuratively, the course of someone's life.
- גֶבֶרgever· man
Man, a grown man in his strength.
- כּוֹנָנוּkonanu· be firm, prepare
Be firm, be set, be ready; in the causative form, set up, establish, prepare, make ready.
- דַרְכּdark· way
Way, road, journey. Figuratively, the way one lives or acts.
- יֶחְפָּץyechpats· desire, delight in
Want, desire; be pleased with someone, delight in.
- יִפֹּלyipol· fall
Fall; also fall upon (attack), lie down, desert to someone. In the causative form, "make fall", throw down, cast (lots).
- יוּטָלyutal· hurl, cast down
To hurl, to throw with force; also to cast out or bring down.
- סוֹמֵךְsomech· sustain, lean on
Prop up, sustain, uphold; provide for. Also lean on, lay one's hand on.
- יָדyad· hand, power
Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.