The Meaning of Psalms 38:20 Explained

Psalms 38:20

KJV: They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

YLT: And those paying evil for good accuse me, Because of my pursuing good.

Darby: And they that render evil for good are adversaries unto me; because I pursue what is good.

ASV: They also that render evil for good Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They also that render  evil  for good  are mine adversaries;  because I follow  [the thing that] good  [is]. 

What does Psalms 38:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Psalms 38:1-22 - The Cry Of The Needy Penitent
A long drawn-out sigh of pain. Some think it should be classed with Psalms 32:1-11; Psalms 51:1-19, as belonging to the time of David's fall and repentance. It is filled with a sense of God's judgments and the profound consciousness of sin. Perhaps David was suffering physically, or he may be describing his spiritual maladies in terms borrowed from that source. His friends stood apart and his enemies were near. But it was wise to refrain from man and to wait only on God. When we are buffeted and derided, the true attitude is our Lord's. As the dumb sheep before her shearers, He opened not His mouth!
In Psalms 38:15 the tone becomes calmer. The soul begins to recover its center of gravity in God. Notice the fourfold repetition of For, Psalms 38:15-18. Faith marshals her arguments. Out of "stony griefs" she builds "Bethels." Like Samson, she finds honey in the lion's carcass. But God will not forsake. He never for a moment withdraws His close attention. The Refiner sits by the crucible, and will cool down the heat the moment it has done its work. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 38

1  David moves God to take compassion on his pitiful case

What do the individual words in Psalms 38:20 mean?

And Those who render evil for good they are my adversaries because - I follow [what is] good
וּמְשַׁלְּמֵ֣י רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִי תַּ֣חַת רדופי־ [רָֽדְפִי־] (טֽוֹב)

וּמְשַׁלְּמֵ֣י  And  Those  who  render 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
רָ֭עָה  evil 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
טוֹבָ֑ה  good 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִי  they  are  my  adversaries 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, first person common singular
Root: שָׂטַן  
Sense: (Qal) to be or act as an adversary, resist, oppose.
תַּ֣חַת  because 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
רדופי־  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
[רָֽדְפִי־]  I  follow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
(טֽוֹב)  [what  is]  good 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.