Psalms 73:7-17

7 Their eye bulges from 1fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot.
8 They 2mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They 3speak from on high.
9 They have 4set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of 5abundance are drunk by them.
11 They say, "6How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?"
12 Behold, 7these are the wicked; And always 8at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely 9in vain I have kept my heart pure And 10washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken 11all day long And 12chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have betrayed the 13generation of Your children.
16 When I 14pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I came into the 15sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their 16end.

Psalms 73:7-17 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 16

  • 1. Job 15:27; Psalms 17:10; Jeremiah 5:28
  • 2. Psalms 1:1
  • 3. Psalms 17:10; 2 Peter 2:18; Jude 16
  • 4. Revelation 13:6
  • 5. Psalms 23:5
  • 6. Job 22:13
  • 7. Psalms 49:6; Psalms 52:7
  • 8. Jeremiah 49:31; Ezekiel 23:42
  • 9. Job 21:15; Job 34:9; Job 35:3
  • 10. Psalms 26:6
  • 11. Psalms 38:6
  • 12. Job 33:19; Psalms 118:18
  • 13. Psalms 14:5
  • 14. Ecclesiastes 8:17
  • 15. Psalms 27:4; Psalms 77:13
  • 16. Psalms 37:38

Footnotes 12

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