The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
The wicked borroweth ... the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth - not so much a representation of what the wicked and the righteous respectively are willing, or not willing, through injustice, to do, as of what they respectively are able, or unable, through poverty, to do. The "for" in Psalms 37:22 presumes that it is of ability and inability, not of willingness and unwillingness, that Psalms 37:21 speaks. So, too, Psalms 37:26. "He (the righteous man) is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed." The ground passage is Deuteronomy 15:6, "The Lord thy God blesseth thee; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow;" also Deuteronomy 28:12; Deuteronomy 28:44, in contrast to the curse.