Psalms 64:10 Meaning: The Righteous Rejoice and Take Refuge in God
The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!
The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
The righteous shall be glad in Jehovah, and shall take refuge in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory.
The righteous doth rejoice in Jehovah, And hath trusted in Him, And boast themselves do all the upright of heart!
The righteous shall rejoice in Jehovah, and trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
Meaning in one sentence
Psalm 64:10 shows that when God judges the wicked, the righteous respond with gladness and trust in Him. Discover the meaning and application.
Context
Psalm 64 is a prayer of David, crying out for protection from enemies who plot in secret. They sharpen their tongues like swords and shoot bitter words like arrows, believing no one sees them. But David trusts that God sees everything. The psalm turns suddenly: God will shoot an arrow at them, and their own tongues will bring them down. All who see it will fear and declare God’s work. That is the backdrop for this final verse. After the judgment, the righteous are not gloating. They are glad in the Lord. They run to Him for safety. They praise Him with all their hearts.
Key Words
Two words carry the weight of this verse. “Take refuge” is more than casual trust. It means to flee for shelter, to hide in God like a fortress when danger comes. The righteous have seen God act, and they do not stand back to analyze; they run to Him. The word translated “glory” in older versions means to boast or exult. But it is not a boast in oneself or even in the victory. It is a boast in the Lord’s character. The upright heart finds its pride not in escape from trouble but in the God who is just and faithful. These two actions, running to God and rejoicing in Him, are the only fitting response when He shows Himself strong.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse as the proper response to God’s justice. Wesley noted that the righteous are glad because God’s honor is vindicated. Gill pointed out that their joy is not at the ruin of the wicked but at the glory of God’s justice and grace. The Cambridge Bible says the judgment supplies fresh proof that God governs the world righteously, so they take refuge in Him. Barnes added that the good always rejoice when God shows Himself just, true and holy. Across traditions, the focus stays on God, not on the downfall of others.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take this verse as permission to celebrate when enemies suffer. They see it as rejoicing in vengeance. In fact, the gladness is directed toward God Himself, not toward harm done to others. The righteous are glad because God’s character is displayed, His justice, His protection, His faithfulness. The joy rises from seeing that He is worthy of trust, not from seeing others get what they deserve.
Living This Out
This week, you may face someone who lies about you, or you may watch a public wrong finally be made right. In either case, your heart will be tempted in two directions: bitterness toward the wrongdoer or pride that you came out on top. This verse offers a third path. Let the moment drive you toward God as your refuge. Let your gladness be in Him, not in the outcome, but in the fact that He sees, He is just, and He is your shelter.
Main takeaway: When God shows His justice, the righteous run to Him with gladness, not because of the punishment but because He is good.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When we are scared, we can run to God like a safe place. He protects us. We can be happy in Him.
For ages 9, 12
In this psalm, David was being hurt by enemies who lied about him. But he trusted God to act. When God showed His justice, David did not celebrate the enemies’ pain. He celebrated God’s goodness. We can do the same. When someone treats us unfairly, we can ask God to help us, and then we can be glad that He is in control.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean that the righteous shall be glad in the Lord?
Their joy comes from God Himself, His character, His protection, His justice. They are not glad because of the punishment of the wicked but because God has shown Himself faithful.
What does 'take refuge' mean in Psalm 64:10?
It means to flee to God as a safe shelter. The word implies trust and dependence, like running into a fortress when danger comes. The righteous make God their hiding place.
Is it wrong to rejoice when God judges the wicked?
The Bible shows that the righteous can rejoice in God's justice, but the focus is on God's glory and righteousness, not on the suffering of others. We mourn for the lost while trusting God's perfect judgment.
Who are the 'upright in heart' in this verse?
They are those who are sincere in their faith, whose hearts are aligned with God. It describes the righteous, not perfect people, but those who trust God and seek to obey Him.
How does this verse apply to our lives today?
When we face injustice or attacks, we can pray to God and trust Him to act. Our response should be to turn to Him in gladness and refuge, not to take revenge. God's justice gives us hope.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study