Psalms 34:21,22

(6). He Declares The End Of Sinners And Of His Servants (21-22).

Psalms 34:21

T ‘Evil will slay the wicked,

And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

P YHWH redeems the soul of his servants,

And none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.'

The Psalmist finally summarises all that has gone before with a verdict on the unrighteous and the righteous, the latter especially being highlighted by the letter that commences the stanza. It is the letter of redemption. The unrighteous will be slain by evil. That is, they will come to a bad end (compare Psalms 73:17). And this will especially be so of those who are antagonistic towards the righteous. They will be condemned. But in contrast YHWH is ready to pay any price in order to deliver the righteous. None of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned. ‘There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit' (Romans 8:1). Note the combination of redemption and taking refuge. Both words indicate what the needy state had been of those to be delivered. They are what they now are because of His mercy. And it is redemption that is the key word that begins the stanza. It is free to them because of the price that He would pay (compare Isaiah 55:1; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 44:22; Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 59:20; Jeremiah 31:11).