Psalms 73:16-20

16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me 1a wearisome task,
17 until I went into 2the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their 3end.
18 Truly you set them in 4slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed 5in a moment, swept away utterly by 6terrors!
20 Like 7a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when 8you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

Psalms 73:16-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 73

\\<>\\. It seems by the title that Asaph was the penman of this psalm, as it is certain that he was a composer of psalms and hymns; see 2Ch 29:30, though it may be rendered, "a psalm for Asaph", or "unto Asaph" {a}; and might have David for its author, as some think, who, having penned it, sent it to Asaph, to be made use of by him in public service; see 1Ch 16:7, and so the Targum paraphrases it, ``a song by the hands of Asaph;'' the occasion of it was a temptation the psalmist fell into, through the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous, to think there was nothing in religion, that it was a vain and useless thing; under which he continued until he went into the house of God, and was taught better; when he acknowledged his stupidity and folly, and penned this psalm, to prevent others falling into the same snare, and to set forth the goodness of God to his people, with which it begins.

Cross References 8

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.