Psalm 30:5 Text
King James Version (KJV)
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
World English Bible (WEB)
For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
What Psalm 30:5 Means
This verse contrasts two experiences and says the second outlasts the first. Anger lasts a moment while favor lasts a lifetime, and weeping may stay the night but joy comes in the morning. It is a poetic way of saying that suffering is real but not the final word. The night and morning image should not be read as a literal timetable. The psalmist is not promising that every sorrow ends by tomorrow, and people in long grief often find that line painful if it is used as a quick fix. The more careful reading is that God's disposition toward his people is basically kind, and that hardship, even when discipline is involved, does not define the relationship.
Context of Psalm 30:5
The title ascribes this psalm to David and links it to the dedication of the temple or a house, though the details are unclear. The writer looks back on a serious illness or crisis from which he was rescued. He cried out for help, was healed, and now praises God. A few verses later he says God turned his mourning into dancing, which echoes the morning of joy here. To read the whole book, see random verse from Psalms.
How to Apply Psalm 30:5
If you are in a night of weeping, you do not need to hurry yourself toward joy. This verse can be held lightly as a hope rather than a deadline. Tell someone how you are really doing, and let others sit with you. Morning is something to wait for, not something you have to produce.
Related Verses
- Psalm 126:5-6 – They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him .
- Isaiah 54:7-8 – For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
- Lamentations 3:22-23 – It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
- John 16:20 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Hope, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does joy comes in the morning mean my pain will end soon?
Not necessarily on a set schedule. The verse is poetry that expresses trust that sorrow is temporary and God's favor is lasting. Many people wait a long time, and it is fine to grieve fully while holding that hope.
Is God angry in Psalm 30:5?
The psalmist says God's anger is brief and his favor lasts a lifetime. He seems to have experienced a hard season as correction, but the emphasis is on God's kindness, which far outweighs the moment of anger.
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